REHABILITATION: UK gives Rs.17 million grant for ex-combatant rehab

September 4 2009 5.00pm: UK has given a grant of Rs.17 million to the government to rehabilitate and reintegrate ex-combatants.
The agreement to provide for the grant was signed by the British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Dr.Peter Hayes and the Head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mohamed Abdiker today. IOM has initiated several such programmes in re-integration of former carders who have been sent to their homes in the east following rehabilitation programmes done by the government.
Justice Minister Milinda Moragoda said the government has been working closely with the IOM to develop a community oriented demobilisation, rehabilitation and reintegration programme and the Ministry would co-ordinate the programme. The IOM noted that finding employment and assuring long term social and economical security for ex-combatants remain a challenge.