The World Bank Wednesday (19th) announced
the release of 500,000 US dollars to help clear land mines in Sri Lanka's
north -- east regions and help civilians return to their homes. The bank
said the money, the second tranche of a million-dollar project undertaken
by the United Nations Development Program, will go towards training de-miners,
mapping mine-infested areas and related administrative work.
"The landmine action project will
also address issues of psychological trauma and help reintegrate landmine
victims into the economic mainstream through pilot interventions,"
the bank said in a statement.
Last week, the Dutch Government announced a grant of 465,000 US dollars for the British charity Halo Trust to clear mines from Sri Lanka's Jaffna peninsula.