Sri Lankan Army has already sent more engineering troops for de-mining and sending more battalions to be trained in 'humanitarian de-mining,'" the Army would soon send more of its engineers for additional de-mining work, said the Army chief Lieutenant-General Jagath Jayasuriya speaking at his Regimental Headquarters yesterday, Aug.20.
The military did not have a precise estimate of land mines planted by the LTTE. An area about 3,100 square miles (8,000 sq. km.), including Mannar, Kilinochchi, Mullaithivu and parts of Jaffna districts, must be de-mined before it will be safe enough for the Tamils to return. Without de-mining, I don't think we can take a chance," he added.
"We have four international non-governmental organizations helping us now and I want to use mechanized mine clearing to speed up the process," the General further said.