50% LTTE minefields cleared - GL [April 10 2011]

 More than 50% of the areas mined by the LTTE have now been cleared and the balance too would be cleared soon with foreign and local collaboration, External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris, told a press conference at the Sri Lanka High Commission in London before a cross -section of the British and international media was present.

In his introductory remarks Minister Peiris highlighted that Sri Lanka has made swift and significant post-conflict progress, and that the country is experiencing unprecedented economic resurgence and stability. In illustrating this point, Minister Peiris drew attention to some salient developments:

He said that the number of IDP's has been reduced from the original over 290,000 to around 10,000. These remaining persons will be resettled as soon as demining is completed.

Elaborating further on the post conflict development the Minister highlighted the main aspects are follows,  Of the over 11,500 ex-LTTE combatants who surrendered at the end of the conflict, other than the hardcore against whom there is legally admissible evidence, the rest will be released following rehabilitation.