http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=Japanese_aid_for_Northern_demining_20130211_06

Japanese aid for Northern demining

The Japanese Government has granted a sum of US$ 860,500 (approx Rs. 107million) in aid through the HALO Trust in order to expedite the humanitarian demining in the Northern region.

Japan has been a major donor to Sri Lanka and this grant highlights its commitment towards promoting global peace. Its support for mine clearance in Sri Lanka is aimed at assisting in the return and resettlement of internal displaced persons (IDPs) and to facilitate agriculture and other livelihood activities of the returnees. The Government of Japan has provided about of US$ 24 million (approximately Rs. 3,025 million) since 2003 for mine clearance activities under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP). Japanese funded mine clearance teams have cleared over 660 hectares of land contaminated with landmines and explosive ordinance and have safely removed and destroyed over 23,000 landmines and 1,400 items of unexploded ordnance. Since 2002 the HALO trust is involved in mine clearance in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Trincomalee and Mullaitivu districts and employs about 1000 locals.

The Grant Contract between His Excellency Mr. Nobuhito Hobo, Ambassador of Japan and Mr. Bartholomew Digby, Programme Manager, The HALO Trust, was signed on February 8, 2013 at the Ambassador's residence in Colombo.

Japan has been a valued partner in the development of the country. It has extended its cooperation towards a number of major projects under the government's reconciliation process.

More than five thousand square kilometres of land in the Northern and Eastern regions was suspected to be heavily mined by the LTTE terrorist during the conflict. One of the biggest challenges that the government had to face with the end of war was the demining of the former theatre of conflict in order to facilitate resettlement of IDPs. At present less than five percent of the area remains to be cleared of mines. Nearly half a million antipersonnel mines, 1,400 antitank mines and close to four hundred thousand unexploded ordnance devices have been recovered to date under the demining proramme.

Priority was given to demine the towns and villages followed by agricultural land. This was done to facilitate the speedy return of civilians to their former dwellings and resume life. Forest areas were then demined. The Sri Lanka Army single handedly demined the largest are of 1,500 square kilometers including the densely mined areas.