Download A mass wedding took place in Sri Lanka this week.
106 former members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam were married in a government orgainsed gala.
The three decades long civil war came to an end in May last year forcing some 11,000 Tamil Tiger rebels including key leaders to surrender to the army.
Most have been detained in camps since then for what the government describes as rehabilitation.
Now the military has allowed some of them to marry.
Ponniah Manikavasagam attened the wedding and has this report from Vavuniya.
Traditional Tamil music plays as guests arrive at the Pampaimadu Rehabilitation Center.
Dust swirled as the winds picked up on this cloudy day. A thousand Sri Lankan flags fluttered.
Military police and soldiers are guiding visitors into the main ground.
It’s a rare chance for journalists to see inside the centre.
This is a government declared high security zone and usually outsiders are not allow in.
It’s heavily guarded by soldiers armed to their teeth.
52 young couples are seat in rows in a decorated shed - the young men in immaculate cream shirts and sashes, the women in crisp, brightly coloured saris.
Hundreds of their parents and relatives have been given seats far away.
Like a swarm of bees, photographers and journalists clustered around the couples.
Newton and Mayuria have been lovers for three years. Their love blossomed on the battle field.
“Heavy fighting was taking place. I was wounded in the leg. All the others had left. I couldn’t walk and was lying there alone. Mayuriya came to help. She carried me to a safer place and dressed my wound.”
“I was in the medics and went to the war front. I met him when he was wounded. After that we got chances to meet and express our feelings and fell in love. We surrendered to the army together.”
Rules in the Tamil Tiger rebel organization were strict.
No smoking, no drinking and no flirting. But a decent and disciplined love was allowed.
But Marriages were arranged and people had to wait a long time for his or her turn to come.
So, Newton and Mayuria like many others were not able to get married while still in the rebel group.
When the war ended last year male and female rebels were send to separate government camps.
Kumaran one of the bridegrooms says how he came in contact with his girl.
But leter writing was allow. That’s how Newton and Mayuria were able to keep their love alive.
Brigadier Sudhantha Ranasinghe is the Commissioner General in charge of the rehabilitation of the ex Tiger militants.
“These couples had been there with us for sometime and they went through the rehabilitation process. At the end we found that they had come to a state and ready to start their life as family so this mass wedding ceremony is arranged by rehabilitation center.”
It was the auspicious day of the wedding.
Most of the couples who married were Hindus, decked in garlands.
About a dozen were Catholics - Under a canopy a Catholic priest with a crucifix, moves along with a prayer book in the Tamil script.
One by one, the couples took their vows.
Coconuts were broken open and the Hindu couples pairs encircled a holy flame, guided by priests, the scent of burning oil in the air.
Hindu bride grooms are asked to tie the saffron thread around the neck of their brides to mark the marriage
Sri Muthu Jayanthinatha Kurukkal is the chief priest conducting the wedding.
“Now the bells will ring and drums will beat fast. Pray God for a happy married life and then put three knots of the holy thread. We bless you for a happy and prosperous married life.”
The legal documents were signed as the top military men looking on.
Those marrying and their families seemed delighted.
Balasingam Ratnasingam from Trincomalee daughter is one of the brides.
“We were planning to have a grand wedding for my daughter in our village. But she joined the rebel group and found her husband and now this wedding is taking place. I am happy to be here. They are married now. They should be given jobs for their livelihood. That is my request.”
But they like the other 52 couples, are still detained and in what the authorities call "rehabilitation".
Now they are married they will move from their current camps to a new one built specially for former rebel families and known as the Peace Village.
Mithila who has just married her sweetheart Ahsok wants greater freedom.
“We cannot plan our life here. We want to go out, then only we can decide to have children. We can’t do anything inside here.”
The military official in charge of rehabilitation, Brig Sudantha Ranasinghe, says that will happen when the time is right.
“They will start life new in this peace village. We will continue with their food, shelter, food, accommodation, medicine and everything. Their parents are allowed to come and even stay with them. So far we have sent three thousand people home. And they also will go home little by little.”
