Sri Lanka Army deminers received further recognition for their good Samaritan roles in Wanni minefields when the US government on Monday (22) donated several vehicles, trucks, ambulances and equipment to the Army for acceleration of its humanitarian demining work.
Ms Valerie Fowler, ChargÄ“ d’ Affaires at the US Embassy, donating a part of the consignment, valued at half a million US Dollars, to the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya at the US Embassy premises, expressed her government’s intention to further help in this direction in the future.
The donation includes four trucks, seven large troop carriers, five ambulances and a stock of demining equipment and accessories. Demining equipment is worth more than US$ 1 million and donated under the US Foreign Military Financing Programme.
Lieutenant General Jayasuriya in acknowledgement of the gesture of goodwill told the US officials and the gathering that although demining process involves a heavy expenditure, the Army is determined to complete it as soon as possible. He also said that the ongoing demining process consumes much time with the currently available demining facilities in the Army. “Assistance of this nature will certainly facilitate speedy completion, covering the remaining area of about 10,000 sq km in the northern province”, Lieutenant General Jayasuriya said.
Ms Valerie Fowler, US ChargÄ“ d’ Affaires and the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya together pasted the first symbolic sticker on one of the vehicles as a token of acknowledgement and donation.
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