,541,880,972 Square meters " mine free" : 2,468,119,028 square meters surveyed to be cleared in north and East - SLNMAC

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1,541,880,972 Square meters " mine free" : 2,468,119,028 square meters surveyed to be cleared in north and East - SLNMAC

20 Aug 2010 - 13:17
According to the Sri Lanka National Mine Action Center (SLNMAC ) quoted in the media, a total area of 1.541,880,,972 square meters in the North and East has been cleared as at June 2010 , while 2,468,119,028 square meters remain un-cleared . The estimated time required to clear the remaining area will be another "nearly" fifteen years. Estimates reveal that the "annual clearance average since the year 2002 " is 171 square kilometers. However, although the estimated time required to clear the entire area of mines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) /Unexploded Ordnance(UXO's) maybe accelerated with more trained Army Engineers, more efficient technical skills and better and efficient machines. The time taken for mine clearance may seem long but due consideration must be given to the arduous and dangerous nature of the work involved as one human 'error' could not only endanger the life of one individual, but of many. Similarly the loss of a well trained 'de-miner' is unacceptable. Their lives are invaluable to ensure the safety of the people and also as a confidence building measure for the resettlement of people displaced by the mines and explosives indiscriminately 'sown' and deliberately laid by LTTE terrorists. According to the Information Management System on Mine Action (INSMA), Sri Lanka, a total of 386,225,502 square meters of land was cleared between 1January 2009 and 18 July 2010.
Many foreign countries as China and Japan, as well as local and foreign Non Government Organizations have generously supported the Government of Sri Lanka in the effort to make Sri Lanka "mine free". The United States of America recently allocated US $ 500,000 (Rupees56 million) to "purchase more heavy vehicles for the Army Humanitarian Deming Unit". A US Press release (6th August2010) stated :"The US stands committed to assisting Sri Lanka in caring for those persons displaced by the conflict and in helping them to return to their homes and begin their lives . The US will contribute Rs581 million (US $ 5.417million) for humanitarian de- mining needs in Sri Lanka from now through next summer. These funds follow on the Rs742 million ($6.6m) contribution from the US last July to the four international demining agencies currently working in the North. Of this latest funding, Rs440 million (US$ 3,917) will be dedicated to those same international demining agencies; Rs 56 m( US$ 500,000) is being used to purchase six ambulances, 9 personnel carriers , 6 double- cab trucks for the Sri Lanka Army's Humanitarian Deming Unit ; and for the remaining Rs 112 million ( US$ 1million), the US Embassy will work with the Army Humanitarian Demining Unit to identify and procure equipment that will enable further progress of de-mining."
The Ministry of Defense states: "Army deminers, pioneers in the field of demining in the north and east ... making the biggest contribution to the field of de-mining have by 5th August 2010 cleared a total area of 679 square km in the north and east provinces" . By the same date a Army Non Technical Survey (NTS) have cleared 23,566 sq m .Around 850 square kilometers were cleared of LTTE land mines with the Army Engineers unearthing 23,566 Unexploded Ordnance(UXOs) 32,171 Anti Personnel mines(AP) , 123 anti tank mines and 23,566 UXOs. The Army de-mining teams consist of 31 Officers and 991 Other Ranks to unearth the deadly explosive devices. In addition , the NGOs both local and foreign unearthed 93,010 APs and UXO by 5th August 2010 .The UNDP has provided services to coordinate and manage the Mine Action Project especially mine and ERW clearance . The project has been established with a Project Management Unit in Colombo supported by two DMAO's in Jaffna (Jaffna, Killinochchi) and Vavuniya District- to include Ampara, Mullaitivu, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee and sub offices to cater for Mannar.. Within the next few months the Jaffna peninsula will be declared a "Mine Free Zone" as demining has been accelerated in many areas including Nannankalappa. For instance, Demining has commenced to clear mines laid by the LTTE along the northern rail track for reconstruction work. This also includes not only replacing the railway lines and "sleepers and other materials taken away by the LTTE to build bunkers" etc but also the infrastructure consisting of entire railway stations and accessories . Other than the Army Engineers Humanitarian Deming Unit, the demining units in the nortah and east include the Milinda Moragoda Institution for People's Empowerment(MMIP , and six other Organizations- The Danish Demining Group, (DDG), Halo Trust , Horizon, Mines Advisory Group(MAG), Sarvastra and the Swiss Foundation for Demining (FSD).
His Excellency, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has reiterated that the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP's) will be re-settled only after the affected areas have been officially declared "MINE FREE". This principle has been strictly adhered to by the authorities. As a result , despite the inevitable delay due to the nature of the task involved , no casualties of resettled IDPs have been reported from areas declared "mine free" and has given the IDP confidence to resettle in their former villages and resume normal lives . The people are now free after over two decades of ruthless LTTE terrorism to resume normal lives, free from fear of their children been forcibly recruited by the LTTE as "child" soldiers.