Prince Harry concerned about Lanka’s landmines [May 10 2013]

Britain’s Prince Harry said that the threat of landmines in the Northern Sri Lanka could be eradicated in the next five years, if funding can be sustained.

“At any one time, Halo has seven thousand de-miners in the field, striving to protect people, and banish the fear that pervades the lives of millions around the world,” the Prince said during a tour of the US promoting the work of the anti-landmine charity the Halo Trust.

Prince Harry stated that in Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Kosovo, in Somalia, Georgia and Armenia, the threat of landmines could be eradicated in the next five years, if funding can be sustained. “If it were stepped up, in the next 10 years, countries like Cambodia, Angola, Colombia, Afghanistan, Burma and even Zimbabwe might have their landmine crises eliminated for good,” he said, giving a speech in support of the Halo Trust at a British embassy reception attended by US policy-makers, supporters of the anti-landmine charity and potential donors.