During his visit to Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts in northern Sri Lanka, the High Commissioner of India, H.E. Ashok K. Kantha, accompanied by Maj Gen Atula Jayawardena, SF commander (Mullaitivu), visited the Field Camp of an Indian demining team at Oddusuddan and Kathaliyarsamalankulam Grama Niladhari Divisions. The Camp is run by Sarvatra Technical Consultants an India-based demining organisation, which along with another Indian organization, Horizon Assignments, runs seven demining teams in Sri Lanka. All these demining teams are fully funded by Government of India and have been deployed at a cost of about US$ 4 million (Sri Lankan Rs. 450 million).

1. During the field visit, the High Commissioner was briefed about the work of the seven Indian teams, the progress registered in the work of the demining and future tasks and objectives assigned to the demining teams by the Government of Sri Lanka. The High Commissioner was also briefed regarding the new and innovative methods used by the Indian teams and the high risk exposure to the deployed personnel of such operations. The High Commissioner also witnessed a field demonstration of the demining operations by the members of the Indian demining teams.
2. Speaking on the occasion, the High Commissioner thanked the Indian demining teams for their exemplary work and service braving the high risks involved in the operations. He added that this was a sterling example of India-Sri Lanka cooperation and a major contribution to accomplishment of the shared objective of the two Governments to ensure early rehabilitation and resettlement of the idPs in northern Sri Lanka.
3. Earlier, in keeping with high priority attached to demining with a view to clear the land for resettlement of idPs in northern Sri Lanka, the Government of India had deployed four demining teams (two each from Sarvatra and Horizon) comprising 50 members each in June 2009. Subsequently, in order to speed up the process of demining further, at the request of the Government of Sri Lanka, the Government of India decided to deploy three more Indian demining teams (two from Sarvatra and one from Horizon) in November 2009.
4. The Indian teams have so far cleared an area of approx. 63,012,876 Sq metres in the districts of Vavuniya and Mannar making them fit for habitation and resumption of cultivation and other economic activities. In addition to these, the demining teams have been engaged in carrying out a non-technical survey in vast areas in Mullaitivu district in the Kokkilaim – Kokkuttuduwai region and in the Vavuniya district in the Puliyankulam region to identify the exact areas that require demining, while releasing the balance areas for re-settlement.
5. In the process the demining teams have recovered several anti-tank mines, anti-personnel mines, UXOs and other ordnance. The areas that have been cleared of mines by Indian teams are located in the Giants Tanks area, Paranthan, Puliyankulam, Anandarpuliyankulam Palaiperumalkaddu, Valavaithakulam, Vilathikulam, Vaddakandal, Periyakaddu, Periyapuliankulam, Parasankulam, Nainamadu, and Olumadhu. After completion of these tasks, the Indian demining teams have now been deployed in Mullaitivu District and along the A-9 Highway in Puliyankulam.
6. In execution of the tasks assigned to the Indian teams, a total of 173 expatriates and another 172 Sri Lankan personnel have been deployed apart from use of modern demining machines, equipment, detectors and other body protection gear