Sri Lanka aims mine-free status by 2032-By Arundathie Abeysinghe
According to National Mine Action Centre (NMAC), Sri Lanka is targeting completion of its mine-clearance programme by 2032, with 20.5 square kilometres of contaminated land remaining to be cleared (approximately half the total land area of the Colombo District), mostly in complex or challenging terrain in the North and East. NMAC and HALO Trust (Hazardous Area Life-support Organisation – world’s largest humanitarian mine clearance organization) are leading the fieldwork. Currently, about 231 square kilometers of land have already been cleared and around 1.4 million landmines have been safely removed to date.
NMAC has recovered over 2.8 million items of explosive arms, including more than one million Anti-Personnel (AP) mines, 2,687 Anti-Tank (AT) mines and over 761,494 Unexploded Ordnance (UXO).
According to scholars, “the demining programme goes beyond removing landmines, instead, it is a national effort assisting development in the North and East, promoting tourism and strengthening trust and reconciliation among Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. Mine clearance activities will be expedited to facilitate the resettlement of people, livelihood development as well as the rapidly progressing tourism-related development projects in the Northern Province.”
A large number of mines are still found in the Northern Province, especially in Muhamalai area, that was heavily affected during the war. One section of the area has been completely cleared, yet, priority should be given to clearing mines from the remaining private lands too.
According to senior officials of NMAC “Mullaitivu District (Northern Province) is the most challenging area to clear, with 13.1 square kilometres of contaminated land still requiring clearance. Since 2010, approximately, Rs. 81 billion has been invested in mine clearance action. Of this, USD 250 million, equivalent to approximately Rs. 76.8 billion, has been received as grants from international organisations. Government’s 2032 target comes as Sri Lanka continues its long-term mine-clearance programme, with most of the remaining contaminated areas concentrated in regions affected by the conflict.”
“In 2002, 252 personnel were injured during mine clearance activities, while only 2 personnel had been injured during the long period from 2002 to 2025, which indicates the safe and progressive status of the mine clearance operation.”
“It is also necessary to carry out mine clearance activities in the catchment areas located in the forest areas surrounding tanks to ensure safety. As those areas are under the control of the Department of Forest Conservation, relevant action should be taken with the approval of Conservator General of the Department of Forest Conservation regarding the use of mine clearance machinery there”.
Scholars are of the view that “according to recent statements by British actress and Mines Advisory Group (MAG) Ambassador Rosamund Pike, Sri Lanka nears the end of a decade-long effort to clear its territory of landmines and explosive ordnance which have long contaminated it. Rosamund Pike made these remarks during a meeting with Housing, Construction and Water Supply Minister Susil Ranasinghe at the Ministry in Battaramulla on August 10.This achievement comes at a time when several initiatives promoted by other countries are weakening the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) and its attempt to withdraw from the Treaty (Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction), an international agreement which bans the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines.”
“In the demining sector, over 2,000 people have worked, including conflict survivors and former combatants which also includes 500 specially trained Sri Lanka Army personnel. Their collaboration has contributed significantly to the reconciliation, reintegration, and economic recovery of conflict-affected communities.”
