No special regiments for ex-rebels: Govt.

The Government yesterday said that there will be no room for ‘alien regiments’ within the armed forces, for former rebel cadres as suggested by some former militant leaders who are now politicians.

Responding to a question raised by a journalist on the remarks allegedly made by National Integration Minister Vinyagamoorthy Muralitharan to the effect that ex-LTTE cadres who fled the militant movement with him would be absorbed into the Army as a special regiment

Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana said the government has no plans to establish ‘special regiments’ for former militants.

“It is wishful thinking but a youngster has the opportunity to join the armed forces as a law abiding citizen subject to proper training and fulfilling other basic criteria. I do not see why even a rehabilitated militant cannot join the security forces after renouncing violence, he said. 

Dismissing the remarks made by UNP spokesman Lakshman Kiriella that 192,000 persons had lost employment in the last few months, the Minister said while 192,000 lost jobs another 203,000 had received alternative employment in the agricultural sector.

“It is misleading when Mr. Kiriella has not mentioned the number of people who had received employment,” he said.

Commenting on the shut down of factories he said, while some factories were closing down many others have been opened. The economic turmoil in the country is due to the global economic melt down and low demand for Sri Lankan products, the Minister said.

On the dwindling foreign aid received as alleged by the UNP, he said situation was not as gloomy as the UNP was trying toportray.

The Chinese government has pledged US$ 90 million for the second and third stages of the Norochocholai power plant project. Agreements will be signed shortly to resume the construction of the Galle -Matara express way, he said.