http://khabarsoutheastasia.com/en_GB/articles/apwi/articles/features/2012/12/19/feature-02
Sri Lanka tackles the threat of wartime mines
Though the country's conflict has ended, mines planted by Tamil Tiger militants continue to pose a threat. A successful clearing effort is eliminating the risk, however.
By Pradeep Seneviratne for Khabar South Asia in Colombo
Rajan Thangavelu is grateful to be home.
The displaced Kombavil Village farmer was able to return after the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were defeated in 2009, bringing Sri Lanka's decades-long civil war to an end. He cleared wild shrubs from the land and rebuilt his house.
But the task of retrieving his cattle – who were roaming in a nearby jungle – proved to be more difficult, and even dangerous. The LTTE had planted anti-personnel mines and other explosive devices across the north.
Thankfully, the Sri Lankan army has cleared Thangavelu's farmland of mines, allowing him to resume his way of life.
"Now, I can cultivate my fields. Also, I go to the jungle area to herd back my cattle," Thangavelu told Khabar South Asia. "It is a major achievement. Agriculture and livestock industry are our livelihood. We wanted our fields to be cleared of mines."
Mines exact a brutal cost
Getting rid of the mines has been a formidable challenge, according to Army spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya.
"Even before the war ended, we carried out mine clearance work in areas [seized] from the LTTE. But it became an organised project only after the war was over," Wanigasooriya told Khabar.
"There are different organisations engaged in this task. We are happy about our contribution. We ended the war [and] now we help civilians return to their villages after making them mine-free," he said.
S. Rajeswaran, 55, is a Kopai farmer near Jaffna district who fell victim to an anti-personnel mine planted in his paddy field. On June 16th, 1996, an unsuspecting Rajeswaran accidentally stepped onto the explosive device, setting it off. He was rushed to Jaffna hospital, where surgeons amputated his left leg below the knee.
"Today, I have been fitted with an artificial limb. I can do normal work," Rajeswaran told Khabar. "Mine clearance is very important. Mine risk education is also very important. Even after de-mining operations are completed, there can be a few mines lying unnoticed. People have to be vigilant. I salute all those who do de-mining for us."
Monty Ranatunga, the Director of National Mine Action Centre, said the LTTE mined 2,061 sq km -- 90% in the north and the remaining 10% in Sri Lanka's eastern province. Established in 2002, the centre co-ordinates all mine-clearance operations.
Foreign groups such as HALO Trust (Britain), Swiss Federation of Mine Action, Danish Demining Group, Mines Advisory Group, Horizon and Sarvatra (India) have teamed up with the Sri Lankan Army for the cleanup, Ranatunga told Khabar.
"Already, we have completed de-mining in 95% of these areas. It means we are yet to de-mine a land area of 105 sq. kilometres," he said. "It will take at least another two years to complete work in these areas mostly covered by jungles."
Tamil National Alliance member lauds efforts
Tamil politicians in the north acknowledged the contribution to eradicate land mines made by the army with the backing of local and foreign organisations.
"They have done a great job. People's return to their villages has been facilitated by them in this manner," M.K. Sivajilingam, a local government member representing the Tamil National Alliance told Khabar.
Because many mines are located near homes, gardens and wells, educating schoolchildren about the danger is vital, according to Kilinochchi Government Agent R. Ketheeswaran.
"Unsuspecting children sometimes try to play with such devices probably lying in their home gardens in the former war zone," she told Khabar.
![A Sri Lankan army soldier stands next to a sign erected by the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) to warn civilians about a mine-infested jungle near northeastern Mullaittivu on April 18th. Since crushing the Tamil Tigers in May 2009, army forces have worked with the international community to remove unexploded bombs and ordinance in the north. [Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP]](http://khabarsoutheastasia.com/shared/images/2012/12/19/121219-PRADEEP_LK_DEMINING-310_207.jpg)
A Sri Lankan army soldier stands next to a sign erected by the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) to warn civilians about a mine-infested jungle near northeastern Mullaittivu on April 18th. Since crushing the Tamil Tigers in May 2009, army forces have worked with the international community to remove unexploded bombs and ordinance in the north. [Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP]
![A Sri Lankan army soldier stands next to a sign erected by the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) to warn civilians about a mine-infested jungle near northeastern Mullaittivu on April 18th. Since crushing the Tamil Tigers in May 2009, army forces have worked with the international community to remove unexploded bombs and ordinance in the north. [Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP]](http://khabarsoutheastasia.com/shared/images/2012/12/19/121219-PRADEEP_LK_DEMINING.jpg)
But the task of retrieving his cattle – who were roaming in a nearby jungle – proved to be more difficult, and even dangerous. The LTTE had planted anti-personnel mines and other explosive devices across the north.
Thankfully, the Sri Lankan army has cleared Thangavelu's farmland of mines, allowing him to resume his way of life.
"Now, I can cultivate my fields. Also, I go to the jungle area to herd back my cattle," Thangavelu told Khabar South Asia. "It is a major achievement. Agriculture and livestock industry are our livelihood. We wanted our fields to be cleared of mines."
Mines exact a brutal cost
Getting rid of the mines has been a formidable challenge, according to Army spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya.
"Even before the war ended, we carried out mine clearance work in areas [seized] from the LTTE. But it became an organised project only after the war was over," Wanigasooriya told Khabar.
"There are different organisations engaged in this task. We are happy about our contribution. We ended the war [and] now we help civilians return to their villages after making them mine-free," he said.
S. Rajeswaran, 55, is a Kopai farmer near Jaffna district who fell victim to an anti-personnel mine planted in his paddy field. On June 16th, 1996, an unsuspecting Rajeswaran accidentally stepped onto the explosive device, setting it off. He was rushed to Jaffna hospital, where surgeons amputated his left leg below the knee.
"Today, I have been fitted with an artificial limb. I can do normal work," Rajeswaran told Khabar. "Mine clearance is very important. Mine risk education is also very important. Even after de-mining operations are completed, there can be a few mines lying unnoticed. People have to be vigilant. I salute all those who do de-mining for us."
Monty Ranatunga, the Director of National Mine Action Centre, said the LTTE mined 2,061 sq km -- 90% in the north and the remaining 10% in Sri Lanka's eastern province. Established in 2002, the centre co-ordinates all mine-clearance operations.
Foreign groups such as HALO Trust (Britain), Swiss Federation of Mine Action, Danish Demining Group, Mines Advisory Group, Horizon and Sarvatra (India) have teamed up with the Sri Lankan Army for the cleanup, Ranatunga told Khabar.
"Already, we have completed de-mining in 95% of these areas. It means we are yet to de-mine a land area of 105 sq. kilometres," he said. "It will take at least another two years to complete work in these areas mostly covered by jungles."
Tamil National Alliance member lauds efforts
Tamil politicians in the north acknowledged the contribution to eradicate land mines made by the army with the backing of local and foreign organisations.
"They have done a great job. People's return to their villages has been facilitated by them in this manner," M.K. Sivajilingam, a local government member representing the Tamil National Alliance told Khabar.
Because many mines are located near homes, gardens and wells, educating schoolchildren about the danger is vital, according to Kilinochchi Government Agent R. Ketheeswaran.
"Unsuspecting children sometimes try to play with such devices probably lying in their home gardens in the former war zone," she told Khabar.
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