Jaffna surrendees to get permanent centre

By Chris Kamalendran

The Government is to set up a rehabilitation centre in Jaffna to accommodate people who seek protection at the Human Rights Commission (HRC). In the wake of increasing number of surrendees at the Jaffna HRC, Justice and Social Services ministries sought approval for such a centre.

At present, the surrendees are sent to the Jaffna prisons where some 100 such people are housed. Social Services Minister Douglas Devananda said the new centre will give the inmates job training and find them employement locally and abroad.

Meanwhile Prison’s Chief Vijira Wijegunawardena said police should have found an alternative other than the Jaffna prison to accommodate these surrendees as it was a house that had been converted into a prison and there wasn’t enough space.