|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 8 February 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Security |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
FSD optimistic: De-mining completed by 2006 by P. Krishnaswamy The Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) which received a grant aid of US$ 605,634 (approximately Rs. 59.1 million) from the Japanese government recently for its de-mining activities in the Northern and Eastern parts of Sri Lanka expressed optimism that the de-mining process could be successfully completed before the end of 2006. Since the arrival of FSD in Sri Lanka, over 5000 anti-personnel mines and Unexploded Ordnances (UXOs) have been destroyed after being cleared and a total land area of 93,000 square metres have been cleared for resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), it was stated at a press conference during the signing of the grant aid contract at the Prime Minister's office, Colombo. The grant contract was signed by Japanese Ambassador Akio Suda, on behalf of his government, and FSD representative Christoph Hebeisen. Swiss Ambassador Bernardino Regazzoni, government officials and representatives of de-mining organisations were also present. The grant will be used for procurement of necessary equipment to be deployed to clear and verify mined areas. The project will seek to target priority minefields in Vavuniya and Mannar using a combination of mechanical and manual mine clearance, it was stated. So far Japan has contributed a total sum of US$ 2,527,986 for mine clearance activities in Sri Lanka, it was also said. The LTTE has agreed to refrain from using landmines as weapons of war in the future and both Government and LTTE, the latter as a non-State party, would be signing the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, also known as the Ottawa Treaty, in the near future, it was further said. "In Sri Lanka mine-clearing activity is a success story, mainly due to the immense support and assistance extended by the international community and other humanitarian organisations, including international NGOs, which are engaged in the de-mining process and it would become possible to see a mine-free Sri Lanka by the end of 2006", Secretary to the Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Steering Committee for Mine Action (NSCMA), Bradman Weerakoon said, speaking on the occasion. He further said that since the signing of the ceasefire agreement between the Government and LTTE in February 2002, more than ten different international/local NGOs, the Sri Lankan army and the LTTE were engaged in the de-mining of about 1.5 million anti-personnel mines and UXO still believed to remain in the North and East. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
