Sri Lankan firm to employ former female LTTE cadres

A private apparel company in Colombo has decided to employ 1,200 former female Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres who have completed their rehabilitation programme.

A private apparel company in Colombo has decided to employ 1,200 former female Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres who have completed their rehabilitation programme.

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Tri Star Apparel Pte Ltd at Ratmalana near the capital will employ over 1,200 such people in its factories, with the first batch of 150 women to be employed from Monday.

Apart from their salary, these women will also receive benefits such as living allowance, overtime payment and hostel accommodation.

They will also be provided food, life insurance covers, housing loan, distress loans, marriage loans, medical facilities and entertainment facilities, the state owned Sunday Observer reported.

Chairman of Tri Star, Deshabandu Kumar Devapura set up the first manufacturing plant in the Eastern Province, Trincomalee in an area formerly controlled by LTTE rebels.

Devapura said he will shortly establish a training facility at Vavuniya to accommodate one-time combatants.

The firm has cooperated with the Sri Lankan government in providing employment to several internally displaced youth.

Former female LTTE cadres rehabilitated by the Ministry of Rehabilitation had sought the help of private sector organisations to give them employment.

Although the war ended last May on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon with the capture of about 11,000 LTTE cadres, the government is still looking for employment opportunities for these cadres.