In the recent history of Sri Lanka has ended its longest war with the Liberation Tiger of Tamil Elam (LTTE), which lasted for nearly three decades up until 2009. Ended war claimed many human lives, people got permanently and partially disabled, mentally traumatized, destroyed man made properties and to greater extent environment and animals destroyed and suffered, Pakistan based ‘Daily Times’ stated quoting the agency reports.
War has ended virtually but indirectly conflict had left another battle for human to fight with the land for at least coming ten years with the hidden enemy underground of the North and East of Sri Lanka. This shows the bitterness of the conflict and it had left with over a million (estimated 1.3 million to be unearth) of landmines in the North and East of Sri Lanka according to the strategy paper of ‘The National Strategy for Mine Action in Sri Lanka’, by the Economic Development Ministry. Since 2002, the Sri Lankan government and the international community are working tirelessly to clear the land in the North and East, which is contaminated with landmines. Soon after the war ended in 2009 de-mining became one of the main priority for the government and the international community in the context of efforts to resettle the displaced people and carrying out the development projects. End of the war, as all know that using and laying landmines are over in Sri Lanka.
The most importantly, Sri Lanka never produced or exported antipersonnel mines, with the exception of LTTE produced and used them. Now, Sri Lanka is making progress towards banning landmines in the country and its commitment to acceding to the Mine Ban Treaty. This will guarantee that landmines will not be possessed by or used in future of Sri Lanka.