It is estimated that there are over a million mines planted all over north and east Sri Lanka. These include those made in the USA, Italy, Pakistan, South Africa and even crude ones made locally. From sophisticated Claymore mines to the simple but lethal Jonny mines.One of the biggest challenges in the ceasefire period has been to demarcate and de-mine the vast tracts of land that continue to be dangerous to civilians life.
Over a Dozen NGOs and the Sri Lankan army are engaged in de-mining.
While a bulk of the de-mining activity in the government held areas is done by the Sri Lankan Army. The LTTE's Humanitarian de-mining mission and NGO's do most of the demining work in LTTE held areas in the North and East.
This minefield near Jaffna in rebel held North Sri Lanka is being cleared with the financial and technical help of an NGO called the Norwegian People's Aid.
They pay about a 100 dollars to over 800 local deminers who work on various minefields across the rebel held north and east.
They are trained in the international best practices and this ensures that casualty rates among deminers here is kept to a minimum.
I have posted more pictures of me and my colleagues in the minefields of Sri Lanka in my earlier posts.
This picture was shot by Nilanjan Chowdhury.
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