A new office dedicated to the welfare of rehabilitated LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) members was established in Vavuniya yesterday (09).
The inauguration ceremony was led by Selvam Adeikalanathan, Member of Parliament for Vanni District and leader of the Telo organization.
During the event, MP Selvam Adeikalanathan highlighted the challenges faced by approximately 12,000 former LTTE members who participated in the war and underwent rehabilitation programs. While they were successfully reintegrated into society, no permanent employment opportunities were provided for their livelihoods. This resulted in their unemployment, posing difficulties for this group.
The purpose of this newly established office is to gather support from various individuals and entities to offer immediate employment opportunities to the rehabilitated LTTE members. Recognizing the potential negative consequences of leaving a group trained in arms unemployed, MP Adeikalanathan emphasized the importance of providing employment for their successful reintegration into society.
Rehabilitated LTTE members who received vocational training in areas such as masonry, carpentry, and beautician skills during their rehabilitation were provided with a set of tools by the government upon their release. However, over the years, these tools have become worn out or damaged.
Although the government had promised to facilitate employment arrangements and provide special bank loans to support this group, acquiring loans has proven challenging due to the requirement of guarantors. As a result, the loan relief provided through banks functions as a regular loan, making it difficult for the rehabilitated members to secure the necessary funds.
To address these issues, the Tamil diaspora and local businessmen have been assisting the rehabilitated LTTE members in their daily lives. The newly established office aims to systematically provide ongoing support and assistance to this group, ensuring their well-being and integration into society.
