Sri Lanka to release over 400 rehabilitated LTTE cadres today

Sri Lankan authorities are to release 418 former Tamil Tiger rebel fighters who have successfully completed their rehabilitation programme today (30), the government said.

The ex-LTTE cadres will be released today at a function held under the patronage of minister of rehabilitation and prison reforms D.E.W. Gunasekara at the Cultural Center in Vavuniya.
Over 11,000 ex-LTTE cadres surrendered to the Sri Lankan security forces during the final stages of the war and they were being rehabilitated at the rehabilitation centers in Vavuniya.

According to the Bureau of Commissioner General of Rehabilitation, the government has released 4,000 ex-combatants so far after rehabilitation. These ex-combatants have been given vocational training at 12 rehabilitation centers to prepare them to earn a living. In addition, they have been given industrial training in their respective fields.

The government plans to release another 2,000 rehabilitated former LTTE cadres next month.

Deputy Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Vijithamuni Zoysa, Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Brigadier Sudantha Ranasinghe and senior government officials are to participate at the event.