US provides Sri Lanka Rs. 600 m for mine clearance

Thursday, 25 October 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A delegation from the US Department of State’s Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement visited Sri Lanka from 8-12 October to observe US-funded demining activities and meet with some of the beneficiaries of these projects.

The projects are part of the nearly Rs. 600 million ($ 3.5 million) in assistance that the US Department of State has provided towards Sri Lanka’s demining efforts in the 2018 fiscal year.

The group met with officials from the Ministry of Resettlement, the National Mine Action Center and the Sri Lanka Army’s Engineering Brigade and travelled to Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, and Mannar to review mine clearance operations.

During meetings with families who had returned to their homes on land recently returned to them, the delegation heard about the impact mine clearance has made on the daily lives of local residents.

Thus far in 2018, US funding has cleared 1.86 million square meters and safely removed 9,344 land mines and unexploded ordnance and 8,637 items of small arms ammunition.

“We are proud to support Sri Lanka’s national mine action strategy and the goal of making Sri Lanka mine-impact free by 2020,” said Chargé d’affaires Robert Hilton.

“Landmine removal directly supports peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka by allowing citizens to return safely to their homes, businesses, schools and places of worship.”

Since 2002, the United States has provided more than Rs. 9.5 billion ($ 56 million) to clear explosive hazards in Sri Lanka. Thanks to US funding and in cooperation with the Sri Lanka Army, the Batticaloa District was declared mine-impact free in 2017. US funding continues to assist in clearance efforts in the other eight districts affected by landmine contamination and currently supports 664 demining jobs across the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

The US Government has assisted in clearance operations through its local partner the Delvon Association for Social Harmony and through international partners such as the HALO Trust and the Mines Advisory Group. US funding has supported training and provided equipment to the Sri Lanka Army, including specially trained dogs for mine detection. The United States has also funded mine risk education through international partner Spirit of Soccer.