Military Spokesman Brig. Ruwan Wanigasooriya has revealed that the removal of landmines in the North and East has entered the final phase. He said other than some forest areas all other areas are secure.
Addressing a news conference held at the Media Centre of the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, the Military Spokesman said that only 82 square kilometres is left to be demined from an extent of 2064 square kilometres. He said that the area in which the people could be resettled and also for cultivation had already been demined. The removal of mines is not taking place according to military determinations.
The process is taking place according to determinations of the United Nations Development Programme and according to international strategies. He said Sri Lanka could be proud of these procedures when compared with other countries that faced similar conflicts.
Expressing views on the “Tempest Express 24” Staff Planning workshop which opened in Colombo yesterday, the Military Spokesman said that the US Forces and the Sri Lankan Forces have a special bond based on the contributions made at the professional levels. The relations between the US Forces and the Sri Lanka Defence Ministry had not been strained. He said that this “Tempest Express 24” Workshop is one such step in these links. The workshop will run until the 09th of this month. 26 officials from 16 countries are participating in this event. There are 20 US Officials. The number of foreign participants is 46. The Military Spokesman said this is an exercise staged in a broad aim.
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