United States announces additional support for demining activities in the Northern Sri Lanka

The United States today announced that it will contribute Rs. 581 million ($5.417 million) for humanitarian demining needs in Sri Lanka from now through next summer.



The U.S. Embassy in Colombo issuing a statement said the U.S. is committed to assisting Sri Lanka in caring for those persons displaced by the conflict and in helping them return to their homes and begin their lives.
The latest contribution follows a Rs. 742 million ($6.6 million) contribution from the U.S. last July to the four international demining agencies currently working in Sri Lanka's North.
Those international demining agencies will receive Rs. 440 million ($3.917 million) Out of the funding announced today, while Rs. 56 million ($500,000) will be used to purchase six ambulances, nine personnel carriers, and six double-cab trucks for the Sri Lanka Army's Humanitarian Demining Unit.
The U.S. Embassy in cooperation with the Humanitarian Demining Unit will use the remainder of Rs. 112 million ($1 million) to identify and procure equipment that will enable further progress of demining, the statement said.
"Significant progress has been made on humanitarian demining by all parties involved in Sri Lanka over the past year. The United States remains committed to supporting these efforts," it added.