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Journalism of Courage
Sri Lanka will expedite legal proceedings against 11,000 former LTTE combatants,according to a media report.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has given his nod to Justice and Law Reforms Minister Milinda Moragoda to fast track the proceedings against the former Tigers,held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and Emergency Regulations,a news report said.
The decision to expedite legal proceedings has been taken in keeping with a recent government decision,the Island Newspaper quoted a ministry spokesman as saying.
All relevant authorities would be shortly informed of the decision so as to address the grievances of the detained and remanded people,he added.
Votes of the minority Tamil community is considered decisive at the electoral battle between incumbent President Rajapaksa and common opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka,both belonging to the majority Sinhalas.
President Rajapaksa has released over 700 former LTTE cadres,including child soldiers,earlier this month from Vavuniyas Menik Farm welfare village,which houses over 80,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Three batches of people in government custody were released in October,November and December last year.
