The Government of Japan provided a total sum of US$ 681,812 (approximately Rs. 244 million) through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) to Delvon Assistance for Social Harmony (DASH) for humanitarian demining activities in Northern Sri Lanka.
The grant contract was signed on 28th June 2022 at the DASH operational area in Muhamalai in the Kilinochchi district, between His Excellency MIZUKOSHI Hideaki, Ambassador of Japan and Mr. Ananda Chandrasiri, Programme Manager of DASH.
DASH has cleared more than 15 km2 of mine-contaminated land since 2010, and around 6.5 km2 of this was achieved through the assistance of the Japan’s GGP.
The project is expected to contribute to the Government’s efforts of ensuring that mine-contaminated areas are safe, enabling direct or indirect livelihood enhancement of more than 2,000 people living in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts.
The Government of Sri Lanka aims at completing landmine clearance within a few more years for Sri Lanka to become the next mine-impact-free country in the world. Japan has been a major donor to Sri Lanka in this endeavor since 2002, currently assisting all four demining operators available in Sri Lanka, having more than US$ 42 million of funding disbursed thus far for achieving this goal.
This year, Japan and Sri Lanka mark the 70th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Development of the conflict-affected regions is one of the priority areas in Japan’s official development assistance policy to Sri Lanka. The Government of Japan will continue to support the achieving of Sri Lanka Government’s mission “Mine-Impact-Free Sri Lanka”.
