SLA accelerates demining to free country from Mines by 2022
June 16, 2021Sri Lanka Army Humanitarian Demining Unit (SLAHDU) unit of the Sri Lanka Engineers (SLE) has been working towards the effective accomplishment of the national target for overall de-mining by the year end in 2022 after clearing all identified and hazardous areas of explosive remnants as stipulated in the original country plan of de-mining.
The progress of the ongoing demining project was reviewed by Chief Field Engineer Maj. Gen.Nihal Amarasekera together with demining site Commanders recently on the directions of the Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander, Gen. Shavendra Silva, the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) said.
A team of senior officers has also visited demining sites in Kilinochchi, Mullaittivu, Muhamalai and Palaly and on 12 and 13 June and discussed practical aspects associated with ongoing clearing assignments.
The SLA also says the SLADHU is the only government entity to carry out demining operations in Sri Lanka since 2002 as the leading demining organization in the country.
It has to-date cleared 886.19 sq km out of the entire mine and explosive-infested area of 1316.65 sq km, identified as hazardous in the north while all other international and local non-governmental agencies/organizations (INGOs) have cleared about 417.12 sq km, the SLA sources confirmed.
Further, the remaining mine-infested land extent of 13.34 sq km area is yet to be cleared in the country to fulfill the national target and declare Sri Lanka a mine free country.
The SLADHU has so far recovered 99,727 Anti-Personnel Mines, 223 Anti-Tank Mines and 42,919 unexploded ordnance or explosives during the Army demining operations, the SLA added.
