‘I am confident SL will be mine-impact free by 2020’

The Canadian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka and Maldives, Shelley Whiting expressed confidence yesterday that Sri Lanka will meet its objective of being a mineimpact free country by 2020 with the help of Canada.

High Commissioner Mrs. Whiting visited a Mines Advisory Group (MAG) de-mining site in Mannar recently accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera to view de-mining activities being undertaken with Canadian funding.

“Canada’s support is to bring about a mine-impact free country by 2020. Seeing MAG’S work today and noting the level of strong and constructive coordination with the government at all levels, I am confident that this objective will be met.” Mrs. Whiting said at the site.

She took time to speak to Sri Lankan de-mining team members - many of them women from the local area who have made an invaluable contribution to making their communities safe and ready for resettlement through the ongoing de-mining work, including mine clearance and technical and non-technical surveys.

Canada has provided $850,000 in support of the work by MAG in 2015-2016 to remove land mines in the Mannar District in Sri Lanka. This year alone, MAG has released over 25 million square metres of land, benefiting over 21,000 people after clearing them from land mines and booby traps.

In addition 7,342 mines have been removed in the process by MAG in 2015. This contribution forms a part of a total Canadian Government contribution of $2 million to MAG for de-mining in Sri Lanka since 2009. Canada has also supported the de-mining work of HALO-TRUST in Sri Lanka with $1million from 2009-2011.

“Clearance of land mines is a necessary precursor to the peace and security for all Sri Lankans and is a key component of Sri Lanka’s broader plans for reconciliation and resettlement. Canada’s support to MAG is playing an important role in helping Sri Lanka meet its objective of being mine-impact free by 2020. I am confident that this objective will be met.”, Mrs. Whiting stressed.

Canada’s support is to a mine-impact free country by 2020. I am confident that this objective will be met. Canada has provided $850,000 in support of the work by MAG in 2015-2016 to remove land mines in the Mannar District in Sri Lanka