http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/07/16/news11.asp
Sinhala language skills for ex-LTTErs
The remaining ex-LTTE combatants in the government’s protective accommodation and rehabilitation centres in the country are to receive Sinhala language training as part of their rehabilitation.
There are 698 former LTTE cadres remaining in the rehabilitation centres at present and the government has released over 11, 000 former LTTE cadres after rehabilitating them.
The government has reportedly allocated Rs 720 million for the rehabilitation process of former LTTE cadres this year, sources at National Languages and Social Integration Ministry said. National Language and Social Integration Ministry’s National Language Unit has been tasked with conducting language training programmes for these ex LTTE cadres as part of the government’s social integration programme, the Daily News learns.
National Language Unit Director General Prasad Herath yesterday said they have started Sinhala language courses for former LTTE combatants at the Protective Accommodation and Rehabilitation Center in Welikanda.
He said 90 ex militants are being given Sinhala language training at the Welikanda rehabilitation camp.” They will be released to society with enhanced communication and vocational skills,”he said.
Sinhala Language Unit’s language staff together with Sinhala language teachers of universities are teaching the former LTTE combatants, he said.
National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara had instructed National Language Unit officials to begin Sinhala language training programmes for ex- militants at protective and rehabilitation centres in the North.
“We will soon introduce our language training programme to ex-LTTE cadres at rehabilitation camps in the Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Jaffna and Mullativu districts,”Herath said.
The aim of this programme is to enable them to get along with the public anywhere in the country, to build confidence in them, paving the way for them to integrate with society on a firm footing, he explained.
Asked about their job security, Herath said, “they are being given vocational training in various crafts such as woodcraft, masonry and plumbing, to name a few” “They had a tough time during the war. Some of them have lost their legs, sight and some their arms. There are some lawyers among the ex-LTTE cadres who are currently under rehabilitation,” he said.
They will be able to practise Law once they are released to society with the skills they gather as a result of our efforts, he explained.
“I must say we were able to dispel many misconceptions that they had about skills development programmes for them. They have shown greater skills than we expected.
“Some of them did not even know how to speak or write properly in their own language but now most of them can write as a result of the programme,” he said.
The government has reportedly spent over Rs 2.5 billion for the rehabilitation process this year.
“We are also conducting language training programmes for public servants in Jaffna, so that they will be able to speak in Sinhala when they meet with Sinhala speaking people at their Divisional Secretariats of other institutions. Our objective is to absorb at least three to five public officers in each government institute that can speak both Tamil and Sinhala languages to provide services to the public,” he said.
Tamil and Sinhala language skills have been made mandatory to public servants under the Official Languages Act.
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