Sri Lanka releases 100 LTTE rebels held in military-run camps

COLOMBO - The Sri Lankan government has released 100 former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels during a ceremony held in Vavuniya district in Northern Province.

Vavuniya used to be a front line town in the war between the Tamil Tiger rebels and the Sri Lankan Army until the Army advanced northwards during the 2008 Northern offensive.

The 98 men and two women are the latest to be freed from military-run camps where the ex-rebels were held after they were defeated last year.

One of the two women released on Saturday, Shakila Sathasivam, said that she had been detained after being injured while fighting with the rebels.

She said that she had benefited from the counselling and training she had received at a rehabilitation centre.

The government says that 5,000 former rebels are still held in the camps. (ANI)