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CSD program bears fruition :
Northern rehabilitated youth progress in development
By Irangika Range
Northern youth who were once the cannon fodder of the LTTE have now
been fully rehabilitated and given training so that they could join the
rest of country's workforce in the development drive.
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Namal Rajapaksa MP presents a motor
cycle to one of the rehabilitated LTTE cadre |
The concept, mooted by Chairman of the Tharunyata Hetak, MP Namal
Rajapaksa under instructions of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and
implemented with the supervision of Director General of the Civil
Security Department (CSD) Rear Admiral Ananda Peiris, enabled 3,308
former LTTE cadres from northern areas to serve in the CSD. Ninety
percent of them had served at various strata of the LTTE and the rest
had their closest family member, parents, siblings or spouse working for
the LTTE. They had been now rehabilitated and it was MP Rajapaksa's idea
that they be given training and jobs at the CSD as a remedial measure
for the unemployment problem.
Those who joined the CSD are now working along with their Sinhala
counterparts to make the 'Api Vavamu, Rata Nagamu' (Let's grow and build
the country) concept of the Mahinda Chinthanaya a success. Their
inculcation with the rest of the society not only provided an answer to
the unemployment problem but also promoted the process of
reconciliation. From the beginning it was not a story of bed of roses,
as some vestiges of terrorist forces and anti government forces had
spread false rumours and fear to prevent rehabilitated LTTE cadres from
joining the CSD. Their motive was to discourage the youth joining the
development drive. Yet, those youth from areas such as Mulaithivu,
Kilinochchi, Mannar and Vavuniya joined the CSD as they had faith in the
CSD Director General Rear Admiral Peiris and Commandant of the
Mullaithivu/Kilinochchi Forces, Lt. Col. W.W. Rathnapriya Bandu.
Most of the youth who joined the CSF opted for the agricultural work
program while some others wished for different fields of service.
Likewise, 420 took the option to undergo training as kindergarten
teachers. The CSD sponsored setting up of 228 pre-schools in the
Mullaithivu/Kilinochchi areas and 420 former cadres are now teaching in
these schools. In addition, the CSD trained youth who are now working on
road development, town reconstructions, community centres, places of
religious worship and public places.
The Seva Vanitha Unit of the CSD has commenced a project to provide
school books and houses for those needy family members of the CSD cadre.
Recently, motorcycles and bicycles were given to these cadres to avoid
the difficulties in transport. It was just another example of fulfilling
a promise made by CSF DG Rear Admiral Peiris to those youth when the
latter joined the CSD. Accordingly, they received 575 motorcycles under
the project of providing 600 motorcycles and 200 bicycles under the
scheme of providing 1,200 bicycles at a ceremony in Vishwamadu recently.
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