Canada pledges $2mn for landmine clearance in SL

• Every year, 7,000 people lose their lives and thousands more are injured  in areas contaminated by these weapons around the world

Reaffirming commitment to the Ottawa Convention, Canada yesterday announced $8.3 million to support mine-affected communities including $2 million for landmine clearance in northern Sri Lanka.  

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne and International Development Minister Karina Gould issued a statement pledging their commitment to the Ottawa Convention.   

The statement said un-exploded landmines prevent local populations from living and working on their lands in more than 60 countries.  “Canada reaffirmed its commitment to the Ottawa Convention by announcing $8.3 million to support mine-affected communities, mine action that takes into consideration gender equality in decision-making processes as well as in implementation and the universalisation of the convention,” it said.   

The new funding includes $2 million for landmine clearance in northern Sri Lanka.  “Canada has also committed $4.3 million to provide critical institutional support to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian De-mining and Mines Action Canada,” the statement said.   Canada said ensuring that women and youth are actively involved at all levels of mine-action projects is a priority for Canada.