Demining operations accelerated in Jaffna

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Demining operations accelerated in Jaffna

Demining in the Jaffna peninsula has been accelerated and the peninsula will be a mine-free zone within the next month, the Army said.
Jaffna Commanding Officer Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe said that the demining and removal of unexploded devices in many areas of Jaffna including Nannankalappu had been stepped up. Already a major portion of the peninsula had been de-mined, he said.
Major General Hathurusinghe said the Army de-miners were removing mines along the Northern rail track. Work on the reconstruction of the rail track could commence as soon as demining was completed he said.
Several international demining organizations were assisting the Army, Maj. Gen. Hathurusinghe said.
The United States on Friday announced that it would contribute Rs. 581 million ($5.417 million) towards humanitarian demining needs in Sri Lanka from now on through till the next summer.
Out of this amount, Rs. 56 million ($500,000) is to be used for the purchase of six ambulances, nine personnel carriers, and six double-cabs for the Sri Lanka Army's Humanitarian Demining Unit.
Maj. Gen. Hathurusinghe said that 73,689 persons had been resettled within the peninsula. Another 2,332 persons from 699 families were to be resettled, he added.