The Japanese Government has provided a total sum of US$ 1,266,825 (approx. Rs. 219 million) for the SKAVITA Humanitarian Assistance and Relief Project (SHARP) and the HALO Trust for humanitarian demining in Northern Sri Lanka, a communique issued by the Japanese Embassy in Sri Lanka said.
The grant contracts were signed on October 18 at the HALO Trust’s Muhumalai Control Point in Kilinochchi by Japanese Ambassador Akira Sugiyama, Programme Manager of the SHARP, Lieutenant colonel (Retd) V.S.M. Sarath Jayawardhana and Programme Manager of the HALO Trust, Belinda Vause. The two projects are expected to facilitate the efforts of the Sri Lankan Government for ‘Mine-Impact Free Sri Lanka’ by 2020, enabling the resettlement of the internally displaced people and the enhancement of their livelihoods.
Japan has been a major donor in the area of mine clearance in Sri Lanka since 2003, with more than US$ 35 million assistance in total through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP), in view of the goal of the Sri Lankan government to be mine impact free by 2020. This contribution has helped to accelerate and facilitate the resettlement and recommencement of agriculture and other livelihood activities of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Commenting on the provision of this grant, Lt. Col. (Retd) V.S.M. Sarath Jayawardhana said “The Japanese Government is the SHARP’s prime donor who has been providing crucial funding for mine clearance since SHARP’s inception in 2016. Japan has provided funds for the SHARP for the fourth consecutive year, for which we are indeed appreciative and grateful to Japan for assisting and encouraging the SHARP to keep working on demining operations. In the last three years, the partnership between the SHARP and the Japanese Government has enabled the removal and destruction of over 5,000 landmines. I wish to assure our sponsors that the SHARP will continue to carry out our operations to the best of our ability, efficiently and effectively to fulfil the desires of our sponsors.”
Programme Manager of the HALO Trust, Belinda Vause stated “The HALO is extremely grateful to the Japanese Government for their continued support, year after year. Japan is our longest contributing donor and their support to the HALO has led to the clearance of 3.6 million square metres of contaminated land and the removal of over 89,000 mines and other Explosive Remnants of War (ERW). The work of Japan-funded mine clearance teams has already helped over 200,000 people in HALO’s area of operations, formerly the seat of the conflict. Mine clearance is key to the reconciliation process in the north and the resettlement of thousands of people – made possible thanks to Japan’s invaluable support. We look forward to continued cooperation, together with the national government and the mine action community, in making Sri Lanka the next country to be mine impact free”.
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Japan to support Humanitarian Demining in Northern Sri Lanka with 1.27 million USD (12:00)
The Government of Japan has provided a total sum of US$ 1,266,825 (approx. Rs. 219 million) to SKAVITA Humanitarian Assistance and Relief Project (SHARP) and The HALO Trust for humanitarian demining in Northern Sri Lanka.
The grant contracts were signed on Friday at the HALO Trust’s Muhumalai Control Point in Kilinochchi, between His Excellency Akira Sugiyama, Ambassador of Japan, and Lt Col (Retd) V.S.M. Sarath Jayawardhana, Programme Manager of SHARP and Belinda Vause, Programme Manager of the HALO Trust, respectively.
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