SL to be landmine-free by 2020

The Government is planning to free the entire island from landmines by 2020, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Minister D.M. Swaminathan told Parliament yesterday.

Explaining the ongoing process to clear landmines, making things somewhat safer for civilian activities, the Minister said: “We have put up notices in cleared areas. The explosives found are destroyed safely as per the regulations with the help of the Sri Lanka Army and the international bodies engaged in demining activities in Sri Lanka. We are signatories to the international treaty to ban landmines.” However, according to the minister, the current search for mines was limited to 15 cm from the surface and financing was needed to detect and remove deeply-buried landmines and other types of improved explosive devices. 

“Removing deeply-buried explosives is a time-taking activity. Our target is to make Sri Lanka a landmine-free country by 2020. People supporting us in these demining activities help us to fast-track the process, especially when equipment used for warfare is discovered,” he added. (AH)