UK grants £ 500,000 to reintegrate Sri Lanka's rehabilitated ex-combatants, another £ 3 million for demining

The United Kingdom will contribute a total of £ 500,000 (approximately Rs.90 million) towards the reintegration of rehabilitated former Tamil Tigers fighters and another £ 3 million for demining in the conflict affected areas of Sri Lanka.

The Deputy British High Commissioner, Mark Gooding, announced the decision to provide the funding, which comes from the UK's Conflict Pool, on Monday during the first day of an official visit to Jaffna and Trincomalee.

The British High Commission in Colombo in a statement said the funds will be utilized for a programme implemented by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) as part of the Government's rehabilitation and reintegration process.

As part of his visit, the DHC visited a resettled community in Kollankalladdy in the Thellipalai division, a group of reintegrated ex-combatants and the Thellipalai Rehabilitation Centre. His other meetings included those with the SF Commander, Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe and representatives of political parties, the High Commission said.

The British Deputy High Commissioner has welcomed the efforts to re-build the communities in the areas, including through re-establishing livelihoods, clearing mines and resettling the displaced.

Reiterating the UK's continued support, the DHC has announced a new commitment of £ 500,000 of funding for reintegration of former combatants.

"This funding will be channelled through IOM in line with the Government's reintegration programme. The UK also recently announced a further GBP 3,000,000 for de-mining in conflict affected areas," Gooding has said.