Ex-LTTE members with war-injuries discriminated with burden of medical documentation

The SL authorities are refusing to assist former members of the Tamil liberation movement with war injuries by merely demanding medical documentation from the times of their injuries. The ex-combatants of the LTTE, who were subjected to prolonged incarceration at the hands of the occupying Sinhala military, do not have such documentation with them. The SL military that carried out a so-called ‘military rehabilitation’ of former LTTE fighters didn't provide any document entitling them for medical treatment after their release. Now, they are struggling without proper treatment, Tamil doctors say. 

Many former Tamil fighters have only scars of injuries to document their disabilities. When the authorities demand medical documentation from the times of their injuries, they have no papers at all. They are unable to receive any assistance meant for people with injuries or disabilities. 

Particularly those in the district of Batticaloa find it very difficult to secure medical documentation as the doctors are afraid of issuing papers for their injuries from the war in Vanni. 

In the meantime, SL Minister of Rehabilitation D.M. Swaminathan has also admitted that a plan put forward by his ministry to provide necessary documents to injured former LTTE cadres for them to receive assistance without facing the burden of documentation, was turned by the Colombo government.