Kilinochchi (AsiaNews) - The Sri Lankan Army has recruited 109 Tamil girls, who will form the 6th Woman's Army Corps in the country. Originating in the Kilinochchi district (Northern Province), the young women were selected from among over 400 participants. The girls - mostly Catholic - will receive a monthly salary of 30,000 rupees (about 180 euro) and will enjoy all the privileges and benefits guaranteed to soldiers. According to the commander of the security forces, Major General Udaya Perera (a Catholic), the event is a "milestone of the peace and reconciliation process," after the end of the civil war.
The ceremony, which took place on November 17, was held in the Bharathipuram Kilinochchi barracks, in the presence of Catholic, Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist leaders, and of police, army and state officials.
The initiative has two objectives: to provide a secure job for these girls, whose families are very poor and unable to support themselves, and to insert Tamil-speaking individuals into the army, to overcome the language gap. The vast majority of soldiers, in fact, speak the Sinhalese language, and have great difficulty in communicating with the Tamil population.
"Our families", some girls explained, "have suffered hunger for many years. Our parents are elderly, sick and disabled, because of the civil war. They can no longer care for us: but now we are looking after them." According to the project, even family members will enjoy the privileges granted to the girls, among which is health care.
