While attending an event where Batticaloa was officially declared free of mine risks , Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs, D. M. Swaminathan said that his aim is to make Sri Lanka a nation completely free of land mines by the year 2020.
1,276,898 land mines have been already removed and 26 square km more of the North-Central Province are still pending mine clearance.
For mine clearance purposes while Rs. 10 billion had been obtained from foreign agencies the Srilanka Government spent Rs. 4 billion.
The United States of America (USA), Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom (UK), Australia, India, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, China and Russia have rendered their assistance in clearing land mines, Minister Swaminathan concluded.
News received from Government sources disclosed, that instead of presenting controversial VAT amendment bill to Parliament, the Government has decided…