Former child soldiers of the LTTE are to be released by May this year, the government has said.

They will be handed over to their next of kin after one year of rehabilitation, Chairman of National Child Protection Authority Jagath Wellawatte has told BBC Sandeshaya.

The process of releasing them has already begun, he has noted.

They would be kept only for a maximum one-year period for rehabilitation, Mr. Wellawatte has said.

After a visit to the island, UN envoy Maj. Gen. Patrick Cammaert has raised concerns about the continuous detention of the former child soldiers.

According to the United Nations, 40 per cent of the more than 11,000 detained ex-combatants are children aged below 18 years.