LTTE women, child soldiers to be rehabilitated

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

There are around 600 women soldiers, 400 child soldiers and a large number of orphaned children among the LTTE members who surrendered to the Sri Lankan armed forces.

The Child Development and Women's Empowerment Ministry will make arrangements to re-integrate them in to the society after rehabilitation, a Child Development and Women's Empowerment Ministry spokesman said.

He said the Ministry will set up four rehabilitation centres for them in Bogawanthalawa, Thalawa, Biyagama and Paranthan to carry out this task.

The Ministry will use six abandoned state schools located in the North Western and North Central Provinces as rehabilitation centres.

UNICEF will support the Ministry to implement this project.

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) commenced a project on May 4 to gather information and data about all children staying in welfare centres. It has already sent food, clothing and other requirements for those children. Probation and Child Care Services Department also commenced gathering data on displaced children. Gathering data is aimed at setting up an individual record/report on each child.

According to the spokesman, the Ministry sent a container full of sanitary towels, and other clothing required for women and children, milk powder and dry rations for the women and children staying in welfare centres. This is the third consignment of items sent by the Ministry and it will continue to send more containers. Donations can be made at the Ministry located at No.177, Nawala Road, Narahenpita during office hours. The Probation and Child Care Services Department has sent 5000 exercise books and Rs.100,000.

The Ministry has also sent a special team of officials to look into the problems of women and children in these welfare centres.

Provincial Child Right Development Officers and other officials attached to Provincial Departments will also contribute.