Portfolio Sri Lanka

Country in Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, 64,740 sq km. Population (2006) 19.886 milllion. Population composition: Sinhalese (74%), Sri Lankan Tamils (18.1%), Moors, Malays, Burghers and others (7.9%).

Cause and scope of the landmine problem
The civil war that lasted for two decades between Sinhalese government forces and Tamil rebels has left many areas heavily contaminated with landmines and ERW, mainly concentrated in northern and eastern Sri Lanka (Vanni and Jaffna regions). In 2006 UNICEF and UNDP reported a total of 65 casualties following the return to conflict in August 2006. The Cease Fire Agreement came into force on the 22nd February 2002, but became tenuous after December 2005 following sporadic incidences of violence. Conflict affected areas will need to be surveyed once peace hopefully returns before an accurate assessment of the inherent UXO/ERW threat can be made.

NPA history in country
From 2002 the programme aimed at clearing the highest priority areas of the LTTE controlled Vanni region of mines by the end of 2006. Due to the security situation NPA has adopted an emergency demining role. The main objective is to continue assisting the National Mine Action Authority (NSCMA) in achieving its humanitarian mine clearance objectives and providing emergency demining support to recent IDPs in the conflict affected areas of the North and North East. NPA remain as the only international demining agency operating in the non-government controlled areas in partnership with local implementing partner Humanitarian Demining Unit (HDU). As of September 2007 the NPA contingent of the HDU has cleared up to 17,390,877 square metres of land, and has removed and destroyed over 30,108 mines and 8701 items of unexploded ordnance (UXO). NPA also support the Sri Lankan Army Humanitarian Mine Action Unit (SLA HMAU) in the East by providing technical advice and running costs for an MV-4 mini flail unit. Additionally, NPA has provided training and support to demining INGOs Sarvatra and Horizon and local demining NGO MMIPE. NPA was a major facilitator in the compilation of the Vanni Regional Clearance Plan in 2005.

A MV-4 mini-flail was introduced to our ongoing project in the Vanni during 2005. This machine is currently not operational due to government security restrictions.

Capacity
Personnel: 468 national staff, 3 international staff.

Donors
Current core funding is provided by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Japan (Official Development Assistance).  Past donors include ECHO, UNHCR and UNDP.

Links

Landmine Monitor Report for Sri Lanka: http://www.icbl.org/lm/2007/sri_lanka

Solidar Consortium of INGOs: http://solidarsrilanka.org/De-mining.htm