Chargé d'Affaires Valerie Fowler's remarks at the handing over ceremony of four trucks to the Sri Lankan Army Humanitarian Demining Unit

November 22, 2010

Good morning.  Lieutenant General Jayasuriya, welcome to the American Embassy.   Thank you for joining us here today to celebrate the donation of a half million dollars of vehicles to the Sri Lankan Army Humanitarian Demining Unit, from the people of the United States to the people of Sri Lanka.   The U.S. Embassy worked with the Sri Lankan Army Humanitarian Demining Unit to determine its highest priority needs, and these vehicles are the first delivered in response to the priority needs.

In addition to these four trucks, our vehicle donation includes five land-cruiser ambulances and seven large Tata troop transport trucks.  I am also pleased to announce that the U.S. Congress has authorized another $1 million for additional demining equipment for the Sri Lankan Military under our Foreign Military Financing program.  Altogether, this means the United States will have donated over $11 million (U.S. dollars) in demining funding and equipment in the two years since the end of the war.

When the long war ended in May of 2009, we all recognized that one of the biggest challenges facing Sri Lanka, especially in the war-torn areas of the north and east, was the safe removal of land mines to enable Sri Lankans to return to their homes, their schools, and their farms.  Land mines prevent fishermen from getting out to the shore to launch their boats.  Unexploded ordnance is often found contaminating water wells, forcing residents to obtain water elsewhere.  In short, land mines keep people from resuming their normal lives. 

The United States acted immediately at the end of the war to assist the Government of Sri Lanka in its enormous task of removing the 1.5 million land mines estimated to have been scattered throughout the conflict zones.  In July of 2009 we gave $6 million to four international demining agencies working in Sri Lanka; our assistance enabled these organizations to expand significantly their operations here.  These demining organizations have a wealth of experience in demining in all types of environments, under many different conditions.  They employ locals in much of their work, providing a good salary in areas where the economy is still recovering from the war, and giving local residents the chance to take an active part in restoring their villages and homes.  Earlier this year, the U.S. Embassy provided an additional $3.9 million of assistance to these four organizations to enable them to continue their work through next June. 

As Sri Lanka has turned its focus from war to reconstruction and reconciliation, the Sri Lankan Army has expanded its Humanitarian Demining Unit, or HDU.  The United States provided equipment and training to the HDU when it was originally established.  This new donation a total of $500,000 worth of vehicles to the Sri Lankan Army Humanitarian Demining Unit is part of our continued commitment to helping Sri Lanka foster reconstruction in the North and East, create diverse economic development island-wide, assist the return of IDPs to former conflict areas, and enable returnees to resume their livelihoods.. 
These trucks come from the people of the United States to the people of Sri Lanka, and will be used by the Humanitarian Demining Unit of the Sri Lankan Army in its critical demining work in resettlement areas in the North.  In addition to these four trucks, our donation includes five land-cruiser ambulances completely stocked with medical equipment and gurneys.  Although we know that the Sri Lankan Army's demining teams are well-trained and take all necessary safety precautions, demining is an inherently dangerous endeavor.  This was illustrated just last week when a civilian employee was injured while removing a mine in the Pandaveddai minefield in Jaffna.  The new ambulances will ensure that the Army's demining teams have emergency medical care and transportation available right at their work-sites at all times.  Our donation also includes seven large Tata troop transport trucks.  As simple as it may sound, if the deminers can’t get to their worksites, then they can’t get the mines out.  These trucks will ensure they spend their time using their skills to help get people back to their homes and back to their normal lives as soon as possible.

I am also pleased to announce that the U.S. Congress has authorized another $1 million for additional demining equipment for the Sri Lankan Military under our Foreign Military Financing program.  The U.S. Embassy’s Office of Defense Cooperation is working with the HDU to identify equipment that will enhance this unit’s capabilities even more.  Altogether this means the United States will have donated over $11 million in demining funding and equipment in the two years since the end of the war.  We appreciate the tremendous importance of the Sri Lankan Army's humanitarian demining work, and we are excited about the partnership these trucks represent – a partnership that enhances the resources of the Sri Lankan military's efforts to provide a better life for all Sri Lankans, whatever their religion, ethnic background, or economic situation. 

I’d now like to invite Army Commander Lieutenant General Jayasuriya to say a few words.