Colombo, Sept 30 (TruthDive): Addressing a ceremony held at the Temple Trees today to mark the re-integration of 1,800 ex-LTTE cadres to society after they were rehabilitated and given skills development training in various crafts and trades, President Rajapaksa said rehabilitation programmes carried out in other countries have taken a minimum five years to finish it. The conclusion of the war in Sri Lanka in May 2009 saw the displacement of over 2,75,000 people. Some of them who were serving in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were placed under the custody and care of the government rehabilitation centres. Inspired by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar`s creative peace-building initiatives for healing and reconciliation, The Art of Living Foundation Sri Lanka continued to deliver its life-supporting programs to several hundred ex-LTTE combatants placed at the Boosa Prison and the rehabilitation centres in Omanthai and Maradamadu.
“As you re-join society today after two years of vocational training, you go out as free men and women,” Rajapaksa told the former LTTE fighters.
He said there will be anti-social elements who will prey on you. “But I hope you will work for peace and ethnic harmony in this nation of ours. We must not dwell on the bitter past, but look to a prosperous future,” he underlined.
The former Tamil Tiger guerrillas were among about 11,000 LTTE fighters who underwent vocational training in military-run rehabilitation centres after they surrendered following the end of the civil war in May 2009.
They were allowed to reunite with the families having gone through the process where they were taught self-employment skills and English language training. Officials said there are over a thousand more former Tamil Tigers who have been sent for rehabilitation as a result of the court procedure. They will be released only after the legal process. Major General Chandana Rajaguru who supervised the process said the rehabilitation had ended ahead of schedule.
“The programme was to end by December 31. But we have made rapid progress,” Rajaguru said.
The ex-combatants had been given training in, masonry, plumbing, carpentry and business skills. Some were also trained as psychologists and computer programmers. They were reintegrated into the society in batches at different times.
