To ensure early rehabilitation and resettlement of the war displaced in northern Sri Lanka...!!!

Indian boost for IDP resettlement
by Shamindra Ferdinando


Indian assistance in de-mining the war-torn Vanni region will be crucial to Sri Lanka’s efforts to resettle the war displaced.

Although a section of the international community believed that Sri Lanka could not cope with the situation, Indian assistance, along with support given by several other countries, facilitated the re-settlement programme. Government sources told The Island that people could not be resettled unless mine clearing operations meeting UN standards were completed.

The Sri Lankan Army is the main player in mine clearing operations.

Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha recently visited the Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts, where Indian de-mining teams are deployed. Accompanied by Mullaitivu Security Forces Commander, Maj Gen. Athula Jayawardena, Kantha visited Oddusuddan and Kathaliyar samalankulam.

Indian High Commission official said that the operation was run by Sarvatra Technical Consultants, an India-based de-mining organisation, which along with another Indian organization, Horizon Assignments, runs seven de-mining teams. He said that they were fully funded by India at a cost of about US $ 4 million (Sri Lankan Rs. 450 million).

Northern Province Governor Maj. Gen. (retd) G. A. Chandrasiri told The Island that mine clearing operations had reached a crucial stage. According to him, their focus was on the Vanni east, the area east of the Kandy-Jaffna A9 road.

The Indian High Commission statement, issued yesterday, quoted Kantha as saying that de-mining operations undertaken by India was a sterling example of Indo-Lanka cooperation and a major contribution to accomplishment of the shared objective of the two governments to ensure early rehabilitation and resettlement of the war displaced in northern Sri Lanka.

Indian de-miners were deployed in the wake of the Norwegians arranged CFA coming into operation in February 2002.

According to the High Commission, India deployed four de-mining teams (two each from Sarvatra and Horizon) comprising 50 members each in June 2009. Subsequently, at the request of the Sri Lanka government, the Government of India deployed three additional teams (two from Sarvatra and one from Horizon) in November 2009.

They have so far cleared an area of approximately 63,012,876 sq. metres in Vavuniya and Mannar districts.

They are also engaged in carrying out a non-technical survey in Mullaitivu and Vavuniya district to identify areas, which need to be cleared of mines.

Throughout the Eelam war IV, Sri Lanka received Indian assistance, though many tried to dissuade New Delhi from helping Colombo. Sources said that Indian help was crucial to post-LTTE era reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement process.


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