De-mining in North, East progressing well

Sandasen Marasinghe

Army Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara stated that the forces have cleared an area of 62,760,434 square metres (63 square kilometres) of mines and explosives in Northern and Eastern Provinces this year.

The forces have recovered 8,313 anti personnel mines and 2,536 other explosives hidden in these areas which could have posed a hazard to the civilians.

He made this statement during a field tour to Periyathampanai and Periyapannivirichchan in Vavuniya to observe how the de-mining process was in progress by the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD). The FSD is a voluntary organization operating in Sri Lanka since 2002. After completion of de-mining in Mannar (Rice Bowl area and Madhu), Trincomalee and Batticaloa moved to Periyathampanai and Periyapannivichchan in Vavuniya.

Brigadier Nanayakkara stated that the army had cleared an area of 450,402,744 square metres in seven districts of the Northern and Eastern Provinces since 2002. Altogether 34,336 explosives were recovered in Jaffna, Vauniya, Mannar, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts that were awaiting their prey. The explosives included 19 anti tank mines and 17,323 anti-personnel mines. The de-mining process was initiated with 120 de-miners and their strength has risen to 820 de-miners, 22 machines and 7 de-mining dogs.

Retired Major K. Raju of Indian Army, Technical Field Manager of the FDS which is among the six de-mining teams are now operating with the Sri Lankan Army on de-mining activities in areas where the IDPs are to be resettled, said that nearly 100,000 square metres were cleared in Periyathampanai and 200,000 square metres in Periyapannivirichchae after the area was freed from the LTTE clutches in May 2009. The FSD could recover 4,589 explosive devices in these areas since May this year.

The de-mining process was conducted manually in Periyathampnai Grama Niladhari Division and with the machine MV 4 Mini Flail in the Periyapannivirichchari Grama Niladhari Division.

The mines in the areas that were cleared by the machine are crushed and become inactive as the machine rotates at a speed of 900 RPM per minute.

Pointing to destroyed and stranded houses in the area to the Daily News, Major. Raju stated that there were 640 families to be settled in the Periyathampanai area while there were 162 families to be resettled in the Periyapannivirichchan. He said that 90 percent of the houses abandoned due to LTTE atrocities were houses in good condition and it was a really difficult task to de-mine and also as the area was covered by thick jungle.

He said that by January 5 next year these two areas could be cleared and handed over to the Forces for resettlement. Another reason for the delay in the de-mining process as the spread of mines by the LTTE had no pattern. Firstly an area around the houses covered by 50 metres would be cleared and the villagers would be resettled.

Major Raju recalled that on one occasion one of his teams recovered 180 mines laid by the LTTE around a house in the Rice Bowl area to trap soldiers. He said although the de-mining process was slow no body could be resettled in these areas at the moment.