Eyes have fallen off of Sri Lanka since the country ended it’s 26 year civil war ended in May 2009. The conflict ended with the governments forces final defeat of the insurgent Tamil Tigers rebel group (LTTE).

Over the years, especially in the last few years of the conflict international human rights groups repeatedly called for action due to the continuous crimes on the civilian population, including torture and the use of child soldiers, however the conflict continued to cause displacement, death, and poverty. Children were one of the biggest targets of the violence and hostility, as some quarter of a million people were displaced, the large majority of which were children, left without their basic fundamental rights to education, healthcare and nutrition.

However while the conflict may be over the situation for civilians continues to be a daily struggle to rebuild their lives, no one has a more difficult time adjusting to peace and reintegrating into post-conflict peace than that of the children who were caught in the heart of the conflict, the child soldiers of the Tamil Tigers.  UNICEF estimates that from 2003 to the end of 2008, over 6,000 children were reportedly recruited by Tamil rebels, however the true figure is largely thought to have skyrocketed as the conflict went into it’s final months.

Hope for an end to the long standing conflict almost ended after the ending of the 2002 cease fire on January 16, 2008, which culminated with more violence.  After the escalating violence a UN Human Rights Council meeting was held that same month, were a final resolution was passed by the Council, applauding the countries new policies and cooperative efforts.  In the northeastern part of the country it is estimated that some, 3000,000 Tamil civilians are still in government camps after being displaced during the conflict. However human rights observers have stated that the camps are little more than prisons, for which many children are being held in. Yet the Sri Lanka government is now saying that it no longer needs the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), who warning of a possible humanitarian catastrophe  and thus set the government on edge, and thus left the international community with heavy concerns that without observers violations may continue.

Some children, and young adults that were forcibly recruited, and, or kidnapped as children, have found their way into rehabilitation and reintegration programs, however have found that returning to civilian life is not an easy feat.  After years, some near lifetimes, as child soldiers, trained to kill and with little other skills, social, educational or even many simple life skills, reintegration is a long and hard battle, and for those that may have fought unimaginable battles this one will be their hardest.

As the final LTTE battle ended some 112 former soldiers, between the ages of 14-29 years-old, arrived at the Protection and Rehabilitation Centre in Ambepussa.  At the rehabilitation center the former combatants are given vocational training, and education in math, computer science and languages, and sometimes they even get to participate in cultural and sporting events and occasional field trips (The Economist).  However those who made it to the center in Ambepussa are the lucky ones.

What is the future for the children of of Sri Lanka’s longstanding war?  The answer remains unknown for all the children affected, weather as child soldiers, displaced or forced to witness endless violence, all will require a great deal of resources and care, all of which is limited.  The true long-term affects on civil society in the country will not be seen for years to come, but there appears to be an inevitable trend for disability unless serious and sustainable rehabilitation programs are put into place on a much larger scale.

You can see my previous posts on Sri Lanka, such as Conflict Continues to Destroy Children’s Lives in Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Children Malnurished Despite Health Programs, for further information on the background of the conflict.