The North-East area and its border districts are expected to be mine free by the end of 2006 under the Comprehensive Mine Action Program undertaken by the Government with the assistance of the UNDP, UNICEF and other international NGOs.

"Landmines and unexploded ordnances have been used as defensive weapons during the last two decades of the conflict. About 1.5 million mines have to be cleared both in the Jaffna district (500,000) and in the Wanni (one million). About 150,000 mines and UXOs have already been cleared," sources said.

The representatives from the UNDP, Marshall Legacy Institute and State Department of the United States had a discussion with Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation Ministry Secretary M.S. Jayasinghe and Secretary to the National Steering Committee (NSC) on Mine Action Dr.A.S. Kunasingham yesterday.

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga is keen to resettle the displaced in the North-East provinces as well as in the adjoining districts, Jayasinghe told the delegation.

Eight NGOs are involved in mine action. They are Danish De-mining Group, Swiss Federation for Mine Action, The Halo Trust, Mine Action Group, Norwegian People's Aid, Humanitarian De-Mining Unit, Japan Centre for Conflict Prevention and the Milinda Moragoda Institute for People's Empowerment.

The UNDP has taken a leading role in this exercise and the United States of America has given priority to implement de-mining activities in Sri Lanka.

Jayasinghe said the six dogs provided by MLI to the Mine Action program can cover 800 meters per day.

Dr. Kunasingham said the Government has undertaken a comprehensive mine action program completely owned and managed by the Government and supported by the UNDP, UNICEF, NGOs and the Sri Lankan Army. The entire program is coordinated by the Rehabilitation Ministry. The Government has obtained assistance from various donor agencies for de-mining. The Japanese Government has pledged US$ 2.5 million. They will sign four agreements with the Rehabilitation Ministry Secretary on June 18. "By the end of this year, we hope to have the entire capacity build up with these international NGOs and the Sri Lankan Army. The Sri Lankan Army has a target of 600 de-miners to be trained by the US State Department by the end of August. We will have full capacity at the end of August.

There will be a 600 de-mining member units under this Ministry. We will deploy them to various places," he added.