http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20100930_06
Government releases over 400 rehabilitated ex-LTTE combatants
www.defence.lk">The government released 403 former LTTE combatants who have successfully completed their rehabilitation programme today (30 Sep).
They were handed over to their families and relatives at a function held under the patronage of minister of rehabilitation and prison reforms D.E.W. Gunasekara at the Cultural Center in Vavuniya.
Certificates were awarded to those who successfully completed the vocational training while being rehabilitated at 12 rehabilitation centers.
Commending the service rendered, the Minister presented certificates to the instructors who made their fullest commitment conducting various courses for ex-combatants during the rehabilitation program at the event.
Addressing the gathering Minister Gunasekara said that the Ministry of rehabilitation has taken measures to further assist the rehabilitees to start self employment by providing low interest loans. Accordingly, rehabilitees can obtain a loan of 250,000 in 4% interest rate and 10 years of recovery period from the ministry.
"Sri Lanka is the first ever country in the world to carry out such a comprehensive and successful rehabilitation programme to integrate former combatants who fought against the government into the society" minister added.
"My ministry conducted three Mobile Services in Northern Province, no one of the family members of ex-combatants been rehabilitated in centers met me make any complaint against the security forces. That implies the success achieved in the rehabilitation program," Minister Gunasekara further said.
"It must be grateful that security forces done a commendable job towards the rehabilitation of these ex-combatants. Earlier many believed this would impossible. But even the challenge at hand seemed a very difficult one the government together with the assistance of security forces managed to face it successfully". deputy minister Vijith Wijayamuni Zoysa said addressing the gathering.
Secretary to the Ministry of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Mr. A. Dissanayake, Commander SF-Vanni Maj. General Kamal Gunarathna and Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Brigadier Sudantha Ranasinghe, government officials and hundreds of relatives of ex-combatants were also present at the event.
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