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More assistance for rehabilitated former combatants

Under a government initiative rehabilitated beneficiaries are provided with low interest loans enabling them to speed up their economic revival within the reconciliation process. According to Ministry of Rehabilitation 1000 rehabilitated beneficiaries have been provided with this concessionary loan and steps have been taken to speed up the release of funds.

These concessionary loans are extended to the beneficiaries in addition to the numerous livelihood assistance programmes being provided for the rehabilitated former combatants at present.

Loans are provided to set up self-employment ventures, cottage industries, agricultural projects, small scale workshops and businesses. The beneficiaries can obtain loans up to a maximum of Rs 250,000. This scheme will greatly benefit the beneficiaries who will be able to support their families and also contribute towards their regional and national economy.

With the conclusion of the Humanitarian Operation in May 2009, one of the significant problems that the government was faced with was the rehabilitation of about 12000 LTTE combatants. Under the rehabilitation process these cadres were categorized according to their known level of involvement in LTTE activities, and treated separately. The Bureau of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation was established to oversee their rehabilitation and eventual reintegration.

A 'six plus one' rehabilitation process model was adopted for the beneficiaries of the rehabilitation programme. Particular attention was given to the 594 child soldiers who had surrendered. Adult beneficiaries were initially housed in 22 Protective Accommodation and Rehabilitation Centres (PARC) maintained by the Bureau of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation.

Vocational training in carpentry, masonry, plumbing and electrical wiring were provided to the beneficiaries by qualified professionals. The beneficiaries were given the choice of selecting one among 46 different vocational training courses including agriculture, industry, services and entrepreneurship and according to their level of performances, were awarded with the internationally recognized National Vocational Qualification Level I, II and III certificates.

Substantial opportunities were provided for training information technology, with assistance from private sector implementation partners, and a computer lab was set up with the capacity to train approximately 100 persons at any given time. In a bit to provide employment and also to utilize their knowledge and expertise in the development process many rehabilitated beneficiaries were recruited to the Civil Defence Department.

All beneficiaries have undergone extensive programmes that were designed to equip them with the ability to return to normal life in society. A lot of attention was paid to the reunification of families, with married ex-combatants being given the opportunity to re-join their spouses, children and parents at special rehabilitation centres called 'Peace Villages'. A special programme for 'catch up education' was provided in collaboration with the Education Department for young adults who opted to continue with their education.

The primary focus of the rehabilitation and reintegration programme was to equip the former LTTE cadres with alternative means to a meaningful existence. Within two years a vast majority of the former combatants were rehabilitated and released back to the society. That undoubtedly is a remarkable and unique achievement as no other nation in a similar situation has successfully rehabilitated and reintegrated ex-combatants back into the society with such generosity and speed.

The government has spent Rs. 2.5 billion on rehabilitating the former combatants