Female ex-LTTEers visit Parliament

Sandasen Marasinghe, Irangika Range and Disna Mudalige

A group of 104 female ex-LTTE cadres visited Parliament yesterday.

A group of former female LTTE cadres rehabilitated under the government’s programme of rehabilitation, and reintegrated into society as disciplined citizens were conducted on a tour of Parliament yesterday. Here, they present a painting done by one of them during the rehabilitation programme to Prime Minister D M Jayaratne. Minister Douglas Devananda was also present. Picture by Vasitha Patabendige

The group also enjoyed the rare opportunity of meeting Prime Minister D M Jayaratne at the Prime Minister's office in the Parliament complex.

One of the female rehabilitated youth handed over a painting drawn by her on the theme "peace" to the Prime Minister.

The visit was organized by the Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Ministry.

These ex-combatants are to be released and reintegrated into the society today with their successful completion of the rehabilitation programme.

They were seen listening to the Committee Stage debate of the Appropriation Bill 2012, being in the Public Gallery, when the Finance Heads of Justice and Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms were taken up.

Several ministers and MPs greeted them during their speeches and expressed well wishes for a brighter future to them.

They were served lunch hosted at the Parliament. Each of the rehabilitant youths received a vocational training to commence a self employment after being reintegrated to society.

So far 17,000 rehabilitated ex-LTTE cadres have been reintegrated into society. Very recently a group of 1,800 rehabilitated ex-LTTE cadres were reunited with their families under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.