Providing livelihood assistance to former inmates to restart life and to contribute to society

27/07/2016 – Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society today distributed tools for livelihoods to former inmates who were released under a special license for good behavior. The event took place at the Sri Lanka Prison’s Department in Colombo today.

President of Sri Lanka Red Cross Jagath Abeysinghe, the Deputy Director General Sudath Madugalle, Commissioner General Prisons Nishan Dhanasinghe, Commissioner Operations Thushara Upuldeniya, Assitant Supirientent of Prison Rehabilitation S. Hanisdeen, Chief Welfare Officer Prisons Pathmasiri Perera, Programme Manager of Humanitarian Values Tula De Silva and the Branch Executive Officer of the Colombo Branch Kumari Kotalawala took part in this programme.

Addressing the gathering the Deputy Director General of SLRCS Sudath Madugalle said “this is an activity that we think is vital to today’s society in order to ensure that every person engage in a productive manner that would help our society to grow”.

“It’s vital that we give a second chance to anyone”

The programme focuses on providing tools to the former inmates. They first need to finish a livelihood training conducted by National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) and then can request the tools that is required for them to engage in that particular livelihood.

Items needed for trades like carpentry, mason, fish vendor, welder, and grass cutter were provided to the persons who were present at the event.

The objective of this programme is to ensure that these people get another chance in society and that they do contribute to the betterment of it.

This programme conducted in association with the Sri Lanka Prison’s Department will aim to provide such support in the future as well.