Japanese assistance for de-mining projects

Rasika Somarathna

COLOMBO: To make Sri Lanka mine threat free by 2008, the Government launched a programme yesterday with the assistance of Japan, which provided a further Rs. 143 million towards two de-mining agencies, the Halo Trust and Danish De-mining Group.

Accordingly, the signing ceremony between the Embassy of Japan and the INGO's took place yesterday at the Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure premises in the presence of Ministry Secretary.

According to Ministry sources Japan has extended support for de-mining activities in the country since 2002 and is the leading donor in this regard. Japan has so far provided over Rs. 965 million for six de-mining groups in the country and the ministry of Nation Building towards accelerating the de-mining activities.

Based on the estimates of the Ministry about 230 villagers have been freed from the mines and has been handed over to the villages. Another 200 villages are been cleared at the moment. Sri Lamkas's de-mining programme which is only three years old, has been acclaimed as the worlds best sources said.

According to Japanese Ambassador Kiyoshi Araki, it is essential that clearing the lands from mines are given high priority as to minimize the risk to human lives. He also emphasised the fact that the resettlement of the displaced in their original homes should be the ultimate goal.

The Signing ceremony was attended by representatives of the two INGO's, Secretary to the Ministry M. S. Jayasinghe, Secretary of the National Steering Committee for mine action Dr. A. Kunasingham, British High Commissioner Domonick Chilcott, Ambassador of Switzerland Ruth Flint and councellor for the Embassy of Japan Hideyuki Onishi.