The Japanese Government has extended grant aid for a demining project in the North to meet the emergency needs of the area and to promote peace and development of Sri Lanka under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).

US$ 373,200 (approximately Rs. 42 million) is allocated to demine and to facilitate a safety environment for more than 5,000 people in the Killinochchi district. 60 deminers would be employed from the local community and the project will also simultaneously contribute to providing employment opportunities to the residents in the area.

In addition to the project through GGP, the Government of Japan has also extended projects in the former conflict affected areas, such as improvement of central facilities of Jaffna Teaching Hospital, construction of Vavuniya-Killinochchi Transmission Line, urgent rehabilitation of resettlement community in Jaffna and Mannar districts.

Japan hopes that this assistance directly meet the needs of the people at the grass-roots level, promote the living condition of the people, and then contribute to sustainable peace and development in Sri Lanka, the Japanese Embassy in Colombo said.