Female ex-LTTEers visit Parliament

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20111209_06

Over 100 Ex LTTE Female Cadres visit Parliament
Over one hundred Ex LTTE female cadres visited the Parliament today, 9th December, before being reintegrated into society after completing one year rehabilitation program.
104 ex-LTTE cadres were also provided with the opportunity to witness the parliament proceedings and the budget debate when the committee stage debate of the Ministry of Prison Reforms and Rehabilitation.
The program was organized by the Ministry of Prison Reforms and Rehabilitation and Secretary to the Ministry Mr. A. Dissanayake said 46 cadres who completed one year vocational training will be released on 11th December in Jaffna. "They will be given training in 20 different fields and once reintegrated into the society they can obtain self employment loans up to Rs 250,000 from government banks" he further said.
It is expected to release all remaining 700 former LTTE cadres who under going comprehensive 12 months rehabilitation program by mid 2012.
At the end of the war against LTTE terrorists in May 2009 around 12,000 LTTE cadres surrendered themselves were brought under rehabilitation program and over 11000 of them have already been reintegrated into the society.

http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/12/10/news14.asp
Sandasen Marasinghe, Irangika Range and Disna Mudalige
A group of 104 female ex-LTTE cadres visited Parliament yesterday.
A group of former female LTTE cadres rehabilitated under the government’s programme of rehabilitation, and reintegrated into society as disciplined citizens were conducted on a tour of Parliament yesterday. Here, they present a painting done by one of them during the rehabilitation programme to Prime Minister D M Jayaratne. Minister Douglas Devananda was also present. Picture by Vasitha Patabendige
The group also enjoyed the rare opportunity of meeting Prime Minister D M Jayaratne at the Prime Minister's office in the Parliament complex.
One of the female rehabilitated youth handed over a painting drawn by her on the theme "peace" to the Prime Minister.
The visit was organized by the Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Ministry.
These ex-combatants are to be released and reintegrated into the society today with their successful completion of the rehabilitation programme.
They were seen listening to the Committee Stage debate of the Appropriation Bill 2012, being in the Public Gallery, when the Finance Heads of Justice and Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms were taken up.
Several ministers and MPs greeted them during their speeches and expressed well wishes for a brighter future to them.
They were served lunch hosted at the Parliament. Each of the rehabilitant youths received a vocational training to commence a self employment after being reintegrated to society.
So far 17,000 rehabilitated ex-LTTE cadres have been reintegrated into society. Very recently a group of 1,800 rehabilitated ex-LTTE cadres were reunited with their families under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.