Sixteen ex LTTE cadres undergoing rehabilitation have been selected for athletic training with the hope they could represent Sri Lanka at the South Asian Federation (SAF) games in New Delhi next year.

“Athletes who have shown exceptional skill, on par with national level athletes have been selected for training. These athletes were chosen at talent identification camps held for former LTTE members undergoing rehabilitation,” Sports Ministry Media Secretary Harsha De Abeykoon said. He said the athletes have been selected for swimming, shooting, archery, karate and cricket.

“One athlete was a member of the LTTE sniper unit while another is a swimmer who served as a Sea-Tiger suicide cadre. These youth are exceptionally talented and are totally committed to their training with the hope of representing Sri Lanka at an international meet,” he said.

Mr. Abeyekoon said the ultimate objective was is to ensure that these athletes qualified to represent the country at the SAF games. “We hope at least a few of them will qualify for the games and the ministry is doing everything possible to make this happen,” he said. (Hafeel Farisz)