The handover in Batticaloa, which included canoes, pumps, engines and tool kits for rice paddy cultivation and fishing, was part of a USAID-funded IOM pilot project to help reintegrate former LTTE cadres into civilian life.

The Information, Counseling and Referral Services (ICRS) project aims to reintegrate up to 1,000 former members of the LTTE and TMVP (Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikel).

"Reintegrating former combatants into society, retraining them and helping them to find jobs and generate income, is not easy, but is an essential first step towards stabilization, peace and economic recovery," says IOM Sri Lanka Chief of Mission, Mohammed Abdiker.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, USAID Sri Lanka Director, Rebecca Cohn said, "I want to congratulate the individuals who are here with us today for the important step you have taken in your lives. We applaud your courage and wish you success, knowing that this can have a powerful confidence-building effect for the much larger numbers we hope will embark on a similar journey in the weeks and months ahead."

Commissioner General for Rehabilitation, Brigadier Sudantha Ranasinghe, speaking at the ceremony, said: "This is a very good example of reintegration assistance that can be replicated in the Northern Province. It is important to do community rehabilitation and to stop the labeling of this group of people."

The Batticaloa project follows another pilot reintegration project implemented by IOM at the request of the government in 2003. The RECLAIM programme successfully helped some 600 former combatants return to civilian life.