Rehabilitated LTTE cadres for sports

The special selection programme to recognize the skills of the sports talented rehabilitated ex-LTTE cadres was held on Tuesday (18) at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo under the patronage of Minister of Sports Manindanada Aluthgamage and Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Chandrasiri Gajadheera, the Ministry of Sports said. LTTE cadres who surrendered to the Government during the humanitarian operations have been rehabilitated and successfully re-integrated into society.

Accordingly the sports talented rehabilitated ex-LTTE cadres will be absorbed to National pools through this special selection programme which was jointly initiated by Ministry of Sports and Ministry of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms. The Ministry of Sports said that 131 ex-LTTE cadres who are undergoing rehabilitation programme will be trained for 12 selected sporting events such as shooting, volleyball, foot ball, badminton, swimming, athletics, weight lift, karate, kabadi, cricket, chess and carom under this programme.

It was the aim of Ministry of Sports to provide opportunities for sports activities in North and East people who suffered for 30 years in a war torn area and also to up lift national sports with the participation of such people.

It is believed such an attempt would help to achieve international victories to the country as a whole. The Ministry also expects to solicit the contribution of these cadres to take the motherland forward as one country and one nation through sports.