http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=Rehabilitated_Ex_LTTE_cadres_to_teach_at_Pre_Schools_20121208_02

Rehabilitated Ex-LTTE cadres to teach at Pre-Schools

As a measure to supplement the shortage of qualifies Pre- School teachers in the North and East 400 youth from the region including rehabilitated ex-LTTE cadres have been recruited as Pre-School teachers.

Under the directions of the Secretary Defence and Urban Development Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Director General of the Civil Security Department Rear Admiral (Retd) Ananda Peiris had made arrangements to recruit these rehabilitation beneficiaries and civilians to the department as Pre-School teachers.

A Christian nun is also among those recruited. Letters of appointment in this regard were handed over to them at a function held recently.

The rehabilitated ex- LTTE cadres and the civilians are residences of Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts. Not only will these youth render their service to the educational rejuvenation of their communities but also be able to take care of their families without being a burden to the society. It will also create a good opportunity for these once mis-guided youth to reintegrate back in to their society and work in a multi ethnic environment which would create a perfect setting for building better understanding between the communities.

More than 11000 ex-LTTE cadres have benefitted from the rehabilitation programme. The government's highly successful rehabilitation programme has come under praise by many countries and UN agencies. Experts have urged to take Sri Lanka's model as an example in dealing with similar situations in other parts of the world.

A number of post rehabilitation support programs are afoot to assist beneficiaries to reintegrate back into their society and also provide livelihood support. Special low interest loan schemes are provided to start self employment ventures and small scale industries. In addition professional training courses in technical, mechanical, IT, agriculture, animal husbandry, beauty culture, food processing, education, handicraft, carpentry and construction are conducted for them. Special counseling sessions are also held.

The Civil Security Department has in the past recruited a large number of beneficiaries to it rank and file. Plans are underway to provide employment to beneficiaries in private sector ventures as well. Some of the talented sportsmen among them have also been taken under the fold of national pools and sports bodies to represent the nation.