Former Tamil Tigers picked for SAF Games

Sri Lankan authorities have picked eight former Tamil Tigers in the national squad, and some of them will take part in the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games in Delhi next year.

Harsha Abeykone, the sports ministry media secretary, told Xinhua that these include four shooters, two cricketers and a karate player.

A man disabled during the ethnic conflict has been selected to represent Sri Lanka in shooting at the next Paralympics.

"The selections were done in June from among 131 rebels rehabilitated in different camps," Abeykone said, referring to former members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The shooters had been in the sniper units of Tamil Tigers who fought for a separate homeland until they were crushed in 2009.