|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Tuesday, 19 August 2003 |
 |
|
 |
Security | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
National Steering Committee on Mine Action to expedite de-mining process The progress of the de-mining process came up for discussion at the sixth meeting of the National Steering Committee on Mine Action (NSCMA) held recently, chaired by the Secretary to the Prime Minister and Commissioner-General for Coordination of Triple "R" (Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation) Bradman Weerakoon. It was encouraging to note that the Halo Trust Organisation which undertook the de-mining work on the A9-Road had completed the clearance of mines on this road except for the anti-tank mines within a period of two weeks, the office of Commissioner-General for Coordination of Relief Rehabilitation and Reconstruction stated. The progress review of the de-mining process showed that a total area of 17,584,425 sq. metres have been covered, and that the number of mines cleared within this area totalled made up of 54139 anti-personnel mines, 157 anti-tank mines, 8513 uxo and 6577 SAA. Of this area the Sri Lanka Army had cleared 17 million sq. mtrs since March 2001. The National Steering Committee on Mine Action which was established in August 2002 to co-ordinate all mine action activities in the country is headed by the Secretary to the Prime Minister, and its other members are Ambassadors, High Commissioners, relevant Ministries, UNDP, UNICEF and also some of the implementing NGOs. At its sixth meeting, this Committee reviewed the progress of the ongoing mine action activities in the Welioya area, and the Sri Lanka Army was requested to co-ordinate these activities. It was revealed that some Indian NGOo were working in the Vanni, clearing mines with the collaboration of the Sri Lanka Army. The Programme Manager of the Danish De-mining Group, who participated in this meeting brought to the notice of the Committee some problems and issues in respect of import and customs duty waiver. It was decided that the concerned INGOo and the representatives from the Army, the Ministry of Defence and Finance meet in Prime Minister's Office to iron out all difficulties encountered in the clearance of the de-mining equipment at the Customs. The UNDP had been assisting the mine action programme technically during the last one year through a Preparatory Assistance Project, which comes to an end by the end of August. However, this project is likely to be extended to cover a period of 1 1/2 - 3 years. This new Project document, it found to be satisfactory, will be accepted and signed by the Government of Sri Lanka and the UNDP in August 2003, the release said. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
