Apparently a determined Ranjani decided to wait long enough to marry her schooldays’ boyfriend.
The 38-year-old former Tiger combatant, Ramiah Ravindran, who married Ranjani on Thursday at the Welikada Prison near Colombo, had been sentenced to life imprisonment 10 years ago for his activities. However, the sentence was subsequently reduced to 15 years.
The long-haired Ravindran in a white attire and Ranjani in blue saree were photographed on the occasion.
High-ranking prison officials, Red Cross members and a few political leaders were present at the function to wish the couple success in a new life after Ravindran’s release, local media reports said. Ravindran is due to be released in 2015.
Biggest Lankan jail
The 19th century Welikada jail is a maximum security prison and the biggest in Sri Lanka, built during the British period. President Rajapaksa had released over 745 former LTTE cadres, including child soldiers, in January from Vavuniya’s Menik Farm welfare village after their rehabilitation. Out of those released, 98 were children.
Three batches of people in government custody were released in October, November and December last year.
Many of the former rebels, including child soldiers, had quit the LTTE at the height of the military operation against the Tamil Tigers in Wanni and surrendered to the security forces.
They went through a rehabilitation programme at the Nawasenapura Rehabilitation Centre at Welikanda in Southern Sri Lanka.