Low interest loans will be provided to rehabilitated former LTTE cadres to begin their livelihood, Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera said.

He said over 1,200 rehabilitated ex-LTTE cadres reintegrated into mainstream society will receive the loans on July 30 at a ceremony at Temple Trees to be held under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s patronage. The minister said the loans with a maximum limit of Rs 250,000 will be administered through Bank of Ceylon, People’s Bank and National Savings Bank. It will have a four percent interest rate with a 10 year repayment period. Only the interest is required to be paid back during the first year, Gajadeera said.

The loans will be provided to start self-employment, small industries, agricultural projects and other vocational training programmes, the minister said. “Not only have we rehabilitated and reintegrated them into society, but we are also creating an environment for them to contribute to the national economy by this loan scheme,” Minister Gajadeera said. The banks are processing the applications, ministry sources said.

During and immediately after the final phase of the war 11,700 LTTE cadres surrendered to the Security Forces or were arrested by the Security Forces.

According to sources, the government spent Rs 2.5 billion to rehabilitate ex-LTTE cadres since the conflict ended in May 2009.

Ridma DISSANAYAKE
Source: Daily News (Sri Lanka)