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.”.