01/04/2009 - The Bottom Line

Eastern Province to be mine free by end April

Mine clearance operations of the Eastern Province is expected to be completed by the end of April, a four month delay on the previous deadline of December 2008. De-mining in Mannar kicked off two weeks ago.


National Steering Committee for Mine Action Chairman M.S. Jayasinghe said “We have already completed 98% of the land area in the Eastern Province,” Jayasinghe confirmed. Security clearance was also given to begin de-mining operations in Mannar two weeks ago.


The total land area cleared as at the end of 2008 since 2002 amounts to 433.32 square kilometres and 157,079 devices have been recovered.The Japanese Government earlier this month donated US$700,000 to the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD).

Nine mine clearing organisations are functioning in Sri Lanka at present. They are Sri Lanka Army (SLA), Halo Trust, Danish De-mining Group (DDG), Mines Advisory Group (MAG), Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD), Horizon, Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), Sarvatra, Milinda Moragoda Institute for People’s Empowerment (MMIPE).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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