The Project on Prison inmate rehabilitation through technical skills development for better social integration and employability carried out by Avant Garde and the Prisons Department will be taken forward amid COVID-19 setbacks,  the Avant Garde Group said. "Despite the global setback suffered due to the outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic and the difficulties in continuing with a programme of this magnitude, we are prepared to overcome any challenge to move forward with the project for the development and prosperity of our motherland." During the last 45 days when the people in the country were badly affected by the Covid 19 outbreak, Avant Garde together with the Prisons Department launched a pilot project at the Welikada Prison where the inmates participated in a programme to bake 5,000 loaves of bread each day to be distributed free of charge among the poor and destitute. The success of the pilot project has further strengthened the Prison inmate rehabilitation programme,  Avant Garde Group added. Chairman of Avant Garde Group of Companies, (Retd) Major Nissanka Senadhipathi presented the project to the government in January this year with the intention of combating the drug menace and minimizing the number of crimes being committed in the country. The main aim of the project was to rehabilitate inmates through technical skills development and the assurance of gainful employment locally and overseas. The endevour was aimed at minimizing crime in the country and to prevent individuals from ruining their lives due to impulsive acts. In turn, their contributions could be used for the greater prosperity and development of the country. The project is being carried out under the complete supervision and assistance of the Justice, Human Rights and Legal Reforms Ministry as well as the Prisons Department. The project also received the unanimous approval of the Cabinet of Ministers on May 13, 2020, which in turn has afforded great strength to the continuation of the rehabilitation programme.