CSD job boon for ex-LTTEers
Rasika SOMARATHNA
* Over 1,800 apply
* Enthusiasm high
Over 1,800 rehabilitated ex-LTTE cadres turned up at Kilinochchi on
Saturday to join the Civil Security Department (CSD) following the CSD’s
call for ex-combatants to join its ranks. The government is planning to
recruit a large number of rehabilitated ex-LTTE cadres to the CSD. They
are slated to take part in development activities in the North. CSD
Chief Rear Admiral Ananda Peiris said over1,800 ex-LTTE combatants from
the Northern Province turned up to collect applications to join his
department. “We distributed over 2,000 applications.
‘They were very enthusiastic about joining the Civil Security
Department,” he said.
According to CSD sources, most applicants will be recruited and it
will be continued in the future as well.
Sources said the recruitment of ex-combatants to its cadre will be
carried out in other Northern districts shortly.
They will be paid salaries according to CSD salary scales. The
minimum salary will be not less than Rs 18,000, sources said.
The recruitment process is continuing in the North. The chosen
applicants will be offered employment shortly.
Minister C B Ratnayake, MPs Namal Rajapaksa and M Chandrakumar and
Northern Province Governor Major General G A Chandrasiri, were present.
The government has launched a number of programmes to find gainful
employment for rehabilitated ex-combatants.
The current initiative to recruit them to the CSD is a concept of
President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The initiative is carried out under the
guidance of Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya
Rajapaksa. During the last stages of the humanitarian operation, 11,664
former LTTE cadres surrendered to the Security Forces. Most have been
rehabilitated and reintegrated into society. |