Japan to start de-mining in Sri Lanka

Japan has granted funding to clear land mines from a former war-zone in Sri Lanka's embattled north.

The Japan Centre for Conflict Prevention says it's given 751-thousand US dollars by the Japanese government for demining work near the town of Vavuniya from March for 10 months.

The agency says 45 local deminers will be employed to carry out the work.

Unofficial estimates place the number of mines in Sri Lanka's embattled regions at between one and two million.

Several countries, including the US and India, have joined mine clearance operations.

Several non-governmental organisations, including the United Nations, have also been involved in clearing mines in the region to try to allow thousands of refugees to return to their homes.