ARMY Engineer troops that commenced humanitarian De-mining in Mannar “Rice Bowl” area soon after it was liberated from the LTTE terrorists have by early October completed their work in an area that covers 32.8 sq km, out of a total 37 sq km of land, identified to have been mined by LTTE terrorists.
Six hundred and twenty nine (629) engineer soldiers, assisted by seven (07) well-trained dogs and fourteen (14) flail machines are presently at work to clear ten Grama Niladhari Divisions (divisional administration units) in the Rice Bowl area. Out of those ten, eight Grama Niladhari Divisions have already been de-mined and made ready for construction of infrastructure before re-settlement of IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons).
During De-mining operations, troops recovered four thousand three hundred and ninety one (4391) anti personnel mines, one (01) anti tank mine and one thousand one hundred and ten (1110) unexploded ordnance including Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and booby traps.
Meanwhile, troops are to be moved to clear the Mannar-Pooneryn (A-32) road soon.
Madhu church and its surrounding areas, Madhu road junction area, railway track from Vavuniya to Thandikulam and Kokavil tower and its surrounding areas have also been declared free of mines.
Army troops with assistance of other de-mining agencies have accelerated their mission to facilitate early re-settlement under the government’s Uthuru Wasanthaya development programme.
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