Livelihood loans for ex-LTTE cadres
by Ranil WIJAYAPALA
Over 1,200 rehabilitated ex-LTTE cadres reintegrated into main-stream
society will benefit from a Government loan scheme for livelihood
programs, Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister Chandrasiri
Gajadeera told the Sunday Observer.
Following the government’s program to rehabilitate over 12,000
ex-LTTE cadres no complaints were received about any misconduct or
misbehaviour on the part of those rehabilitated, the Minister said.
“Not only have we rehabilitated and reintegrated them into the
society but we are also creating an environment for them to contribute
to the national economy by this loan scheme”, he said.
“ We are giving them loans at 4 percent interest with a 10-year
repayment period. In the first year they need to pay only the interest”,
the Minister said.
The loans for the rehabilitated LTTE cadres will be handed over at a
ceremony on July 30 under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa
at Temple Trees, the Minister said.
Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Ministry Secretary, A. Dissanayaka
said the loans would be provided through the Bank of Ceylon, People’s
Bank and National Savings Bank. The banks are now processing the
applications. The loans with a maximum limit of Rs. 250,000 will be
provided to start self-employment, small industries, agricultural
projects and other vocational training programs, he said.
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