The Royal Norwegian Government has provided assistance to the International Organization for Migration to contribute to the government's efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate former LTTE cadres.

The Norwegian Embassy in Colombo said that it has contributed NOK 3 million (approximately Rs. 57 million) to support the IOM programme that is assisting reintegration and reconciliation of former LTTE cadres into their own society.

Norwegian Ambassador Hilde Haraldstad and IOM Chief of Mission Mr. Richard Danziger signed the grant agreement Wednesday (02) at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Colombo, an Embassy press release said.

The Norwegian Ambassador Ms. Haraldstad, while emphasizing the importance of social and economic reintegration of ex-cadres of LTTE remarked that it is important to assist the former fighters to return home and to start a new life.

The IOM programme for reintegration of former cadres of LTTE has been implemented since 2009. It is designed to support longer term peace and human security needs both at the individual and community level by supporting the reintegration of former cadres both economically and socially.

During and immediately after the final phase of the Humanitarian Operation 11,700 LTTE cadres surrendered to government security forces. According to the Rehabilitation Ministry so far 8369 have been released.

The government has allocated Rs.750 million for the rehabilitation process and so for this year and has spent Rs.2.5 billion on the rehabilitation of ex-LTTE cadres.

These cadres have been given vocational training during the rehabilitation program.

They were provided training in masonry, carpentry, tailoring, agriculture, motormechanism, computer proficiency and handicrafts.