News
Japan extends further support to humanitarian de-mining operations
USD 45 mn in grants since 2002
Japan has allocated USD 1,007, 191 (approximately Rs 301 mn) for humanitarian de-mining operations in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.Japanese Ambassador in Colombo Mizukoshi Hideaki yesterday (27) signed two grant contracts with Ms. Cristy McLennan, Country Director of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and Peter Hugh Scott Baker, Programme Manager of the HALO Trust.
Japan has been a major donor in demining activities in Sri Lanka since 2002, and the total amount of assistance exceeds US$ 45 million.The Japanese embassy said: “It is expected that these projects by MAG and HALO will together contribute to resettlement and livelihood support for a total of 16,920 beneficiaries in the Northern and Eastern provinces.
The development of the conflict-affected areas is one of the priority areas of Japan’s official development assistance policy to Sri Lanka.”
The Japanese Ambassador strongly reiterated that the Government of Japan has been committing its role as a leading donor in de-mining activities and will continue to provide the necessary support to achieve “Mine-Impact-Free Sri Lanka”.
Commenting on the provision of this grant, Ms. Cristy McLennan, Country Director of MAG, stated; “Since the beginning of the Sri Lanka Mine Action programme in 2002, Japan has been a major donor to mine clearance. Through assistance from the Government of Japan alone, MAG has released close to 3,500,000
㎡ of contaminated land and removed more than 17,000 landmines and other explosive ordnance that remained in the ground after decades of conflict, risking life and limb and preventing land from being used to its full potential.
With this additional funding, MAG will clear a further 205,128 ㎡ of ground in the North and East of Sri Lanka, reducing the threat of death and injury to resident and returning communities and enhancing the livelihoods of 5,870 people. It is expected that the land made safe through this project will be used for agricultural development, access to infrastructure as well as to natural resources. MAG has worked in Sri Lanka since 2002 to help rid the country of the scourge of landmines and other explosive ordnance, currently employing over 1,000 staff across eight districts of the country. We are grateful to be receiving this critical, continued support from the Government of Japan and we hope our partnership continues until Sri Lanka becomes mine free.”
Peter Hugh Scott Baker, Programme Manager of the HALO Trust, stated; “The HALO Trust is deeply grateful to the Government of Japan for its continued trust and commitment to HALO’s clearance operations in Sri Lanka. As our longest-supporting donor, for over 22 years Japan has been vital to our humanitarian efforts, enabling us to clear explosive remnants of war that threaten conflict-affected communities.
Japanese-funding has contributed to the safe destruction of over 285,000 anti-personnel land mines and the release of 7,551,569㎡of previously contaminated land, facilitating the safe resettlement of over 280,000 IDP. The generous and consistent financial support of Japan also provides stable incomes and livelihoods for hundreds of local men and women. The continued support from the Government of Japan to The HALO Trust and the three other mine action operators is crucial in aiding the Government of Sri Lanka to reach its Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty obligations to clear all remaining known mine and other explosive contamination in Sri Lanka.”.
News
Cabinet approves project to modernize school hostel facilities during the 2026–2028 period at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,008 million
Among the school hostels in the country, 126 hostel buildings are in an aged condition, with maintenance and renovation work remaining at a minimal level.
Consequently, it has been observed that constraints in the physical, sanitary, health, and safety facilities of these school hostels adversely affect the living standards and academic performance of the resident students.
Therefore, the necessity to modernize the essential facilities of these hostels has been recognized to foster a qualitative environment conducive to the students’ education and well-being.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Prime Minister, in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, to implement a project to modernize school hostel facilities during the 2026–2028 period at an estimated total cost of Rs. 1,008 million.
In the recent past, factors such as population growth, expansion of development activities, and deforestation in Sri Lanka have resulted in the loss of traditional migratory routes and the destruction of habitats of wild elephants.
Consequently, a continuous and rapid escalation of the human-elephant conflict has been observed over a long period, spanning 19 out of the 25 districts and 134 out of the 341 Divisional Secretariat Divisions in the country.
According to the wild elephant census conducted in 2024, the wild elephant population in the country is estimated to be approximately 7,450. It is reported that the human-elephant
conflict accounts for a significant number of human fatalities and wild elephant deaths annually.
Furthermore, over a thousand incidents of property damage caused by wild elephants are recorded each year.
Although a ‘National Action Plan to Mitigate Human-Elephant Conflict in Sri Lanka’ was formulated in 2020, the dynamics of the current human-elephant conflict have evolved substantially since then, necessitating the formulation of a new national action plan.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Environment to take the necessary steps to draft a new National Action Plan for Human-Elephant Conflict Management.
Latest News
Cabinet green light to host 21st Steering Committee Meeting of the Cooperative Aviation Security Programme – Asia Pacific and the 14th Regional Aviation Security Coordination Forum – Asia and Pacific Regions from 23 – 26 June in Sri Lanka
Hosting the 21st Steering Committee Meeting of the Cooperative Aviation Security Programme – Asia Pacific and the 14th Regional Aviation Security Coordination Forum – Asia and Pacific Regions in Sri Lanka
An invitation has been extended to Sri Lanka to host two major regional aviation security summits: the 21st Steering Committee Meeting of the Cooperative Aviation Security Programme – Asia Pacific (CASP-AP) and the 14th Regional Aviation Security Coordination Forum (RASCF).
The Steering Committee of the Cooperative Aviation Security Programme – Asia Pacific serves as the primary decision-making body for the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) cooperative aviation security program in the Asia-Pacific region.
Sri Lanka is scheduled to assume the chairmanship of the said Steering Committee for the 2026-2027 term during this summit.
The Regional Aviation Security Coordination Forum for the Asia and Pacific regions serves as a regional platform to deliberate on emerging threats, the implementation of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), capacity-building activities, and coordination among member states and international
organizations.
Approximately 80 delegates, including representatives from 41 member states, international organizations, and observers, are expected to participate in these two summits.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation to host the 21st Steering Committee Meeting of the Cooperative Aviation Security Programme – Asia Pacific on the 23rd and 24th of June 2026, and the 14th Regional Aviation Security Coordination Forum – Asia and Pacific Regions on the 25th and 26th of June 2026 in Sri Lanka.
Cabinet approves project to modernize school hostel facilities during the 2026–2028 period at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,008 million
New National Action Plan for Human-Elephant Conflict Management to be drafted
Cabinet green light to host 21st Steering Committee Meeting of the Cooperative Aviation Security Programme – Asia Pacific and the 14th Regional Aviation Security Coordination Forum – Asia and Pacific Regions from 23 – 26 June in Sri Lanka
Committee to examine the feasibility of operating all functions related to the Employees’ Provident Fund and the Employees’ Trust Fund under an integrated governance framework
Cabinet nod to lease 108 acres, 3 roods, and 37.85 perches land in Hambanthota
G7 leaders meet in France with Iran and Ukraine high on agenda
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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