The de-mining process in the Northern Province, had it been entrusted to an outside agency, would have cost the country a minimum of US$ 2 billion, and that such massive sum was saved because of the de-mining exercise carried out by the Sri Lankan security forces, said Central Bank Governor, Ajith Nivard Cabraal.

He stated that around 1 million mines laid by the terrorist group, LTTE in various parts of the Northern Province have been so far removed, and if this dangerous and complicated job had been entrusted to an international de-mining organization, they would have charged at least US$ 2,000 per single de-mining, based on the risk and other logistical challenges.

Further, such firms would have taken a lot longer to complete the work which would have substantially delayed the re-settlement process.

The Governor also mentioned that this complex task of de-mining was handled by the Sri Lankan security forces and they had carried out this work in an amazingly short period of time, and, at a minimum cost.

Mr. Cabraal made these remarks at the Symposium of Finance Company Directors held at Hotel Galadari on 7th December 2010, when explaining the concept of "productivity". He stated that the level of productivity was very high in the case of our security forces viz-a-viz certain other countries' forces, whose costs of operation have been much higher, although they have only been able to produce very limited results.

In his address, the Governor pointed out that the entirety of the war and defence expenditure of Sri Lanka during the 4 year period, 2006 - 2009, amounted to less than US$ 6 billion and that such expenditure yielded the outstanding result of eliminating terrorism from the nation.