Release of all LTTE detainees by mid 2012

http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/12/12/sec00.asp


Release of all LTTE detainees by mid 2012
Ridma Dissanayake
All measures are in place to release the remaining former LTTE cadres by the middle of next year following the completion of their training programme, a government official said. The last remaining group of 700 former LTTE cadres will be released by mid-2012 after providing them the mandatory 12 months' training, said Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Ministry's secretary A. Dissanayake.
According to Dissanayake another 46 cadres who completed their one year vocational training were released yesterday.
"They will be provided training in 20 different fields and once reintegrated into society, they can obtain self-employment loans up to Rs 250,000," the official said.
The official made this claim following the visit of 104 former LTTE female cadres to Parliament last Friday before being reintegrated into society after their one year rehabilitation programme.
The rehabilitated female combatants visited Parliament during the committee stage debate of the Prison and Rehabilitation Ministry. They were the members of the last group of around 700 remaining ex-terrorists.
The former combatants receive training in vocational skills before their release through programme organized by the military to earn a living on their own, once released.
During and immediately after the final phase of the war around 12,000 LTTE cadres surrendered to the security forces.
Rs.750 million has been allocated for the rehabilitation process this year. The government said that it has spent Rs. 2.5 billion to rehabilitate ex-LTTE cadres since the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009.