http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20110722_02


US lauds Army's de-mining efforts

Ongoing de-mining effort done by the Sri Lanka government and other local and foreign de-mining organizations was highly praised by Mrs. Patricia Butenis, the US ambassador in Sri Lanka on last Wednesday (20 July).
In a ceremony held at the US embassy in Colombo to hand over four trucks to the humanitarian de-mining Unit of the Sri Lanka Army the US ambassador accepted that large swathes of land where the LTTE buried a large number of land mines during the last phase of the humanitarian war have been cleared by the Sri Lankan Army and the other de-mining organizations in the North and East.
Military spokesman Major General Ubaya Medawala accepted the donation on behalf of the Sri Lanka Army.
"Thanks to the efforts of the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lankan and international de-mining organizations, a large swathes of the North and East are now cleared of mines and such dangers can be put to rest, she said.
In her speech she added that the US government had contributed more than US$ 10 million for the de-mining efforts in Sri Lanka since 2009. Further reminding the contribution made by the US government in last year she told five ambulances and four Toyota Hilux double cabs and a comprehensive training to the officers and military personnel of other ranks were provided to the Sri Lanka Humanitarian De-mining Unit by the US government.
She said that she inspected the de-mining dogs donated by an American non profit organization, The Marshall Legacy, at Sri Lanka School of Military Engineering in Embilipitiya last Monday.
"The landmines scattered around the North and East of Sri Lanka has meant that families cannot return to their homes and livelihoods", Mrs. Butenis added.
She said the United States has provided assistance to Sri Lanka to amounting US$ 80 million since the end of conflict in the North and East.
Accepting the donation Major general Ubaya Medawala said that the troops had found more than 358,588 mines in an area of 3971 square Kilometers and the area to be cleared land mines has reduced to 300 square Kilometers from 4,400 square Kilometers by this month.
Major General Medawala commended the support and a greater contribution provided by the US government for Sri Lanka's de-mining efforts