Lanka gets US$ 5m for de-mining

Minister meets UN High Commissioner for Refugees:

Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres.

The UNHCR has granted Sri Lanka US $ 5 million to purchase 10 flailing machines to further accelerate the de-mining program in the North. This is on a request made by Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa MP and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force for Resettlement, Development and Security in the Northern Province and discussions Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe had with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres.

This outright grant was confirmed on Monday in Geneva at a meeting between Minister Samarasinghe and the High Commissioner for Refugees Guterres on the sidelines of the UNHCR Executive Committee meeting.

Samarasinghe earlier addressed the UNHCR Executive Committee Meeting. Responding to Samarasinghe’s statement, Guterres, said he was happy about the open and frank discussion the Government had with UN Secretary General on Human Rights of IDPs Representative Prof. Walter Kalin.

Guterres said the UNHCR was strongly committed to support Sri Lanka’s de-mining program.