Wedding bells chime for ex Tiger combatants

by Shanika SRIYANANDA

He has decorated the small room with flowers and balloons. His small wooden 'house', which has room for five, is colourwashed and repaired with new roofing sheets. Everything is set to welcome the new bride.

Vihhalis Simfon is happy that they were able to live to tie the knot legally.

The 24-year-old ex-LTTE cadre does not have a legal document to prove that he married Devi in 2007.

Both the ex- LTTE 'police' cops had their parents' blessings and both worked at the LTTE 'police' station before the military push to LTTE dominated areas intensified.

Today is the very special day for Vihhalis, who wedded Devi according to Catholic rituals at a grand wedding ceremony in Vavuniya.

Not only Vihhalis and Devi but another 52 couples who said "I do" to start a new life, have found joy.

Today at 7.30 am 53 couples, ex-LTTE cadres who are undergoing rehabilitation will tie the knot according to Hindu and Catholic rituals.

Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms D.E.W. Gunasekara is among the VIP invitees to witness the grand wedding.

"It is a historic day in the field of rehabilitation. The Army is happy that we helped these young couples to start a new life together", Rehabilitation Commissioner General Brigadier Sudantha Ranasinghe says.

Among the 53 couples, 41 will marry according to Hindu rituals. Hindu and Catholic priests from Colombo and Vavuniya will perform the rituals.

The couples have been given expensive sarees and suits bought from India. Each couple will also be given a 'thali'.

"They will also be given a wedding gift - a joint bank account - of Rs. 10,000 by the Oneness Movement", Brig. Ranasinghe says.

Vihhalis had joined the LTTE to protect his two sisters and brother from the LTTE. " The LTTE asked a person to join the LTTE from each family. I volunteered to join the LTTE and they recruited me to its 'police' in 2006. I had three-months training and then I worked in several places", he says.

He met the LTTE 'police woman', Devi, in 2007. Being a catholic, Vihhalis decided to take her as his life partner.

Both got their parents' blessings but kept their affair a secret from the LTTE, though they served in the same station.

In April 2009, the couple decided to abandon the LTTE as they felt they were fighting a losing battle. They arranged the mission secretly with their parents.

In the wee hours, they fled with hundreds of other civilians, but Devi was shot by the LTTE 'policemen' who were guarding the defence lines. "It was a miracle. She got only a leg injury. We surrendered to the Army. The soldiers kept us and another youth under their custody but our parents were sent to the welfare centres in Vavuniya", he recalls.

"I never thought that the Sri Lankan Army soldiers could be so decent. The LTTE had painted a devilish picture about them. They told us to fight against the military to have a separate land for us. We too saw the soldiers as devils who kill us and enjoy when they see our blood. But they are like our parents and friends", Vihhalis says.

"I don't know how to thank them. They helped us a lot", his voice quivers.

He says that he never thought that he would meet Devi again and dreamt about her. Today their dreams have become reality thanks to the same soldiers who train these young misled youth to weave a better life and to be non-violent in future.

"We never thought that we would have this big wedding with Ministers and high Army officials. We think we are lucky to be alive", Devi says.

Over 1,000 guests including parents and family members of these couples have been invited to participate in the ceremony.

The Army band and the cultural troupe performed. Official photographs are taken. Breakfast is given by the Army and lunch is sponsored by the Sai Centre in Vauniya. The All Ceylon Hindu Congress has also helped.

The couples are now living in the Peace Village in Pompemadu, where the government set up special villages to house, married ex-LTTE cadres. "They will continue to undergo rehabilitation while living together. The boys are given vocational training and girls are trained in beauty culture", said Brig. Ranasinghe adding that the government would look after them until they are released.

Vihhalis and Devi say they are looking forward to going home to killinochchi, where their parents are now resettled.

"I want to become a driver", Vihhalis who can speak Sinhala says. His father worked in the Gal-Oya branch of the Railway Department before they went to live in Kilinochchi.

"I want to tell the world that we have a bright future. We want to live with all", Vihhalis says.