http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2013/04/07/approximately-31029-unexploded-ordnance-recovered/

Approximately 31,029 Unexploded Ordnance Recovered

By Camelia Nathaniel
The Sri Lanka Army recovered approximately, 31029 unexploded ordnance during demining operations carried out since May 2009 in the war affected areas.
The United Nations’ International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action was observed last week.
Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005, this day fosters awareness of the mine-action capacities in countries where mines and explosive remnants of war constitute a serious threat to the safety, health and lives of the civilian population, or an impediment to social and economic development. In total, it was suspected that mines had been laid in more than five thousand square kilometres of land in the conflict areas. Demining such a vast area was a very difficult challenge, but the Government unhesitatingly undertook it immediately after the war ended. Many foreign organisations came forward to help including the Danish Demining Group, the Indian Sarvatra Group and the Horizon Group: the UK based Mines Advisory Group, the Australian government and several others. These groups were made responsible for demining various sections of land throughout the North and East. The Sri Lanka Army took on the responsibility of demining the largest area of land, comprising nearly 1,500 square kilometres including most of the densely mined regions.
The Sri Lanka Army was allocated an area of 1,515,615,307 km2 of mined areas to be cleared and of which 1,482,697,595 km2 have been demined from May 2009 to 29 March 2013. During the mine clearing process the army had recovered 49092 anti personnel mines (AP), 240 anti tank mines (AT) and 31029 unexploded ordnance. Of the total area cleared the demining teams had to demine an area of 9,357,479 km2 manually, as machinery could not be used in these areas.
While many local and foreign organisations are involved in clearing of mines in the areas where the 30 year conflict had taken place, Australia is spending $20 million (2.6 billion LKR) over five years to help remove landmines from Sri Lanka and support the efforts of the Sri Lankan Government to make Sri Lanka mine-free by 2020.
Australian High Commissioner Robyn Mudie said Australia is committed to supporting the work of the Sri Lankan Government to rid the country of unexploded landmines. “We are working with the Sri Lankan Government, the United Nations and non-government organisations to make it safe for people to return to their homes and restart their lives,” she added.
Australian funding has already cleared over 74 square kilometres of land in Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Jaffna districts. This is around 15 per cent of the total area that has been cleared since 2009 to date.