US praises SL on resettlement

23 December 2010 11:56 am

The United States today commended the Sir Lankan government’s efforts in resettling most of those who were internally displaced by the fighting in the country.

“I commend the Government’s efforts in resettling most of those who were internally displaced by the fighting US Ambassador in Colombo Patricia Butenis said.

Praising the Sri Lanka Army and the local and international INGOs for successful demining operations in the country, she said “due to the heroic efforts of the Sri Lankan Army and Sri Lankan and international demining organizations, large swaths of the North and East are now cleared of mines. However, much work still remains and our continuing support will enable the process to be completed more quickly.”

“Demining is an essential element of this resettlement process.  The mines have meant that people can’t return to their homes, that farmers can’t plant and harvest crops, that villagers have to worry about explosives in water wells, and that children can mistake a mine for a toy,” she said in a statement after donating five ambulances to the Sri Lanka Army in Colombo.