Japan to extend its support to Humanitarian Demining Activities in Northern and Eastern Provinces

On the 27th of June 2024, His Excellency Mr. MIZUKOSHI Hideaki, Ambassador of Japan, signed the grant contracts of two demining projects under the scheme of “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP)”, with Ms. Cristy McLennan, Country Director of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and Mr. Peter Hugh Scott Baker, Programme Manager of the HALO Trust.

The Government of Japan has provided a total sum of US$ 1,007,191 (approx. Rs. 301 million) for these two projects with MAG and the HALO Trust to extend its support for humanitarian demining activities in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. Japan has been a major donor in demining activities in Sri Lanka since 2002, and the total amount of assistance exceeds US$ 45 million.

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.

Ambassador MIZUKOSHI strongly reiterated that the Government of Japan has been committing its role as a leading donor in demining 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 program 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 m2 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 m2 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.”
 

Mr. Peter Hugh Scott Baker, Programme Manager of the HALO Trust, stated;
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“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 7,551,569m2of 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.”