US lauds Army’s demining efforts

Chaminda PERERA

The US government Wednesday lauded the demining efforts of the Sri Lanka Army, and other local and foreign demining organizations in the North and Eastern provinces.

According to US Ambassador in Sri Lanka Patricia Butenis, the Sri Lanka Army and other demining organizations have cleared large swathes of land in the North and Eastern Provinces of mines. Butenis was speaking at the handing over of four trucks to the humanitarian demining unit of the Sri Lanka Army at the US embassy in Colombo. Military spokesman Major General Ubaya Medawala accepted the donation on behalf of the Sri Lanka Army.

“Thanks to the efforts of the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lankan and international demining organizations, a large swathes of the North and East are now cleared of mines and such dangers can be put to rest, she said.

She said the United States government has made a contribution of more than US$ 10 million for the demining efforts of Sri Lanka Army and other demining organizations since 2009.

Butenis said that she inspected the demining dogs donated by an American non profit organization, The Marshall Legacy, at Sri Lanka School of Military Engineering in Embilipitiya last Monday.

She recognized that the areas dotted with landmines are a major impediment for the resettlement and resumption of livelihood activities of the people displaced by the terrorist atrocities.

“The landmines scattered around the North and East of Sri Lanka have meant that families cannot return to their homes and livelihoods”, Butenis added.

The United States last year provided five ambulances and four Toyota Hilux double cabs to the Sri Lanka Humanitarian Demining Unit and provided comprehensive training to the officers and military personnel of other ranks in demining.

She said the United States has provided assistance to Sri Lanka to the tune of US$ 80 million since the end of conflict in the North and East.

Major General Ubaya Medawala said the area to be cleared of mines has reduced to 300 square kilometres from 4,400 Square Kms by this month. The troops have found more than 358,588 mines in an area of 3,971 square kilometers, Medawala said.

Major General Medawala commended the support extended by the US Government for Sri Lanka’s demining efforts. He added that the United States government provided training to the officers and the military personnel of other ranks in demining and related areas.

Medawala said that the US government has made a greater contribution in almost all areas in the demining process. He said the demining process has entered a crucial stage. “We have moved into the most difficult area in the demining process and hope that this area can be cleared of landmines as fast as possible,” he added.