Army gives away gifts to LTTE cadres

Army personnel were magnanimous in extending their compassion, universal loving-kindness and divine pardon to the arch-enemy who mercilessly assassinated thousands of troops and civilians in the past 30 years.

It certainly made a difference in Vavuniya during the weekend May 23-24 when the Army decided to share more than half of a donation they received with surrendered LTTE women cadres in Rehabilitation Centres for surrendered Tigers in Poonthottam and Nelukkulam areas.

The weekend’s huge donation of garments including women’s wear was made to the troops by allied members of the BOI (Board of Investment) and Executive Officers of the Free Trade Zone Companies.

Troops after receipt of the donation from MAS Intimates Pvt Ltd, Slimline and other companies straightaway allocated 976 of those parcels to female and teenage Tiger cadres under rehabilitation.

Army personnel also facilitated donation of those parcels of garments directly to some of those LTTE women cadres. Another segment of the donation was made to Internally Displaced Persons in the Menik Farm Relief Village on the same occasion. The stock also contained milk powder, biscuits, garments and sanitary wear. Brigadier H.D.W. Kariyawasam, 211 Brigade Commander Lieutenant Colonel R.M.P.J. Rathnayake, Lieutenant Colonel W.H.S. Ariyarathna, Co-ordinating Officer for sector security, Lieutenant Colonel M.G. Gunawardane and Staff Officer I (Logistics) of Security Forces Headquarters (Vanni) and Lieutenant Colonel W.H.S. Ariyarathne participated in the programs.

A total of about 9,100 surrendered Tigers are housed for rehabilitation at Pompemadu, Rambakulam, Omanthai, Pallekele, Ambepussa, Thelippalai, Welikanda, Poonthottam and a few more in the Menik Farm along with their parents.