The Australian Government yesterday (Feb.16) donated five demining machines that would further accelerate demining operations in the North.

The consignment of de-mining equipment including five "Bozena +4" demining machines and spare parts valued at Rs. 272 million was handed over by Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Kathy Klugman to Human Rights and Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe.

Twenty four demining machines are in operation and with the latest addition there are 29 machines deployed to rid North of landmines planted by the LTTE during the separatist war.

The equipment will substantially increase the Government's capacity to clear mines in the North, enabling displaced people to return at the earliest to their native lands to re-establish their lives.

These machines, will be deployed in the de-mining operations through the de-mining Unit of the Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Ministry.

Recently the government purchased five more de-mining machines costing Rs.270 million, from the Government of Croatia to accelerate the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons in the North.

Five machines also imported from Slovakia earlier are already used in the Yodawewa area in Mannar.