Army treated us kindly - ex-LTTE cadres

‘We should all go forward as a country discarding communal, petty differences’
‘Certain people living abroad are jealous about our freedom and peace’

‘It was the LTTE terrorists rather than the government Security Forces who severely harassed us.

The Sri Lankan soldiers treated us well. We never believe the human rights violation allegations made against the Armed Forces by international forces, said a group of rehabilitated LTTE cadres in Kandy on Monday. The former LTTE cardres said that people should set aside communal differences and rally round to safeguard the hard won freedom.

Subashini	Kokilan

They expressed these sentiments when they visited the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic during a peace tour of Kandy organised on a concept of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister Chandrasiri Gajadheera.

A batch of 384 rehabilitated former LTTE cadres joined the tour.

The group’s leader Thangavel Kokilan said: “ I served the LTTE for two and a half years after being forcibly recruited during my school days. I joined many LTTE battles against Sri Lankan Forces.

“The LTTE had brainwashed us and inculcated hate in our minds. After associating with the Sinhala people, we found that what the LTTE told us is not true.”

Kokilan said: “ We deserted the LTTE ranks and crossed over to the Army battle lines during the last stages of the war and the Sri Lankan soldiers welcomed and treated us well.

“We also understand that the President is regularly looking into our progress and welfare. The LTTE and the Sri Lanka Armed Forces are poles apart in the context of humanism and humanitarian values. We have now got an opportunity to discard guns and work for the country’s development and welfare. We should all go forward as a country discarding communal and other petty differences.

“Dissension will spell doom for the hard won liberty and freedom. It is our duty to protect the freedom gained for us by the President.” rehabilitated woman cadre Mahendra Subashini. She said she is married and her husband died during the war.

“I was recruited to the LTTE by force. Today, we are enjoying full freedom. Certain people living abroad are jealous about our freedom and peace. That is why they are engaged in false propaganda against our country,” she said.