Aug 29, Colombo: The Government of Japan has extended further support for the humanitarian de-mining activities in Sri Lanka's North and East.

Japan has provided a grant assistance of US$ 1.6 Million (approximately Rs.170 million) to FSD (Swiss Foundation for Mine Action) and DDG (Danish De-mining Group) in order to accelerate de-mining activities in the conflict affected areas, particularly Jaffna, Batticaloa and Trincomalee, so that the resettlement of the IDPs will be further facilitated.

Japan has contributed more than US$ 15 million (approximately Rs. 1,635 million) for mine clearance activities through INGOs as well as for the creation of the “De-mining Unit of the Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation” (DUTRM) in Sri Lanka since 2003 through its “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects” (GGP), a statement issued by the Japanese Embassy said.

The humanitarian mine clearance directly contributes to the resettlement of the internally displaced persons and human security in the conflict affected areas. The FSD project carried out in 2007/2008 directly supported 730 families to resettle and restart their normal life in conflict affected areas. The DDG project carried out in 2007/2008 also directly contributed to the resettlement of 938 families and expects to resettle an additional 500 families in Trincomalee and Jaffna.