Prime Minister D.M.Jayaratne yesterday requested a group of ex-LTTE cadres to forget the past and contribute towards the promotion of racial harmony, inter -ethnic friendship and understanding once they resume their lives as law abiding and useful citizens of the country.

The Premier was addressing a ceremony held at the Wellawatte Ramakrishna Hall in connection with the re-integration of 367 ex-LTTE combatants to society, after rehabilitation and skills development by the Prison Reforms and Rehabilitation Ministry.

“You are rejoining your family members after several years which can be considered as an extremely joyful and important milestone in your life. You are going back to society as law abiding and useful citizens with improved knowledge and skills that will help you in your future endeavours. Please use your new found life to build bridges of peace and promote inter racial harmony,” Prime Minister Jayaratne said. He said all surrendered LTTE cadres ws[ere treated as equals and given skills development in many crafts and disciplines. They have now started their new lives with new hope and are engaged in employment useful to them-selves and the country.

The rehabilitation of nearly 12,000 ex-combatants in such a short time was not an easy task and such an operation has not been carried out in the recent history in any part of the world. Therefore, Sri Lanka’s rehabilitation programme was a record, he emphasized.

Prison Reforms and Rehabilitation Minister Chandrasiri Gajdeera said some 11,699 LTTE combatants had surrendered during the final stages of the humanitarian operation and over 11,000 have been rehabilitated and handed over to their families by now.

“We have taken measures to ensure their future success by giving skills development training with tools and apparatus to start a self-employment project. We give them a soft loan of Rs. 250,000 at 4% annual interest with the assistance of the BOC with the first year being interest free. I am glad that the rehabilitation programme has reached to a successful conclusion which is an example for any rehabilitation programme,” Minister Gajadeera said. He added that there were 24 rehab camps at the beginning and it has now come down to 4. After the conclusion of the rehab programme two camps will be kept open for those who need further training in their skills such as music and art. The ceremony was held to mark the Deepavali as well.

Source: Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka