Through this grant Japan extends its cooperation to the efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka to accelerate humanitarian de-mining activity for the early return and resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons.

Two Grant Contracts for Humanitarian De-mining Activities in the North were signed between Mr. Kunio Takahashi, Ambassador of Japan and the representatives of Danish De-mining Group and the HALO Trust in the presence of Senior Presidential Advisor and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Northern Development, Basil Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat on June 4.

The Government of Japan has already provided a grant aid of US$ 700,000 (approximately Rs.80 million) for humanitarian de-mining in Mannar through Swiss Foundation for Mine Action in 2009. Accordingly, Japan’s total contribution for de-mining activities in 2009 reaches US$ 2.1 million (approximately Rs. 240 million), states a press release issued by the Japanese embassy.

It also said the Embassy of Japan hopes that the contribution from the Government of Japan will be utilized effectively in close cooperation with the Government of Sri Lanka.