HALO Trust completes landmine clearance in Northern Muhamalai

By Kamanthi Wickramasinghe in Jaffna 

On the occasion of completing mine clearance in the North of Muhamalai, The HALO Trust – a humanitarian non-government organisation which primarily works to clear landmines organised an event to mark this significant milestone.   

Speaking at the event, Peter Hugh Scott Baker, Programme Manager at The Halo Trust said that the Muhamalai area totaling 10.5 square kilometers became the Northern frontline between the two opposing sides during the civil war. “There were multiple layers of defence including extensive minefields protecting multiple defensive lines from bunkers and trench systems, each one running continuously across 7 kilometers from Jaffna Bay across the whole of Jaffna Peninsula to the Northern lagoon and beyond that through Nagar Kovil village to the sea. It not only became the largest and densest minefield in Sri Lanka but due to the levels of fighting and exchange of fire, it was also littered with an abundance of explosive ordinance and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and small arms ammunition,” he added.   

From manual methods of landmine clearance where deminers worked painstakingly to clear vast areas of land contaminated with explosives, the HALO Trust subsequently introduced mechanized methods of landmine clearance, especially along submerged mine lines in the lagoon.   

Baker further said that the oldest working mechanical asset arrived in 2010 and has been used extensively during morning and afternoon shifts. “In fact it’s still in operation today and is a testament to the care and attention of our staff,” Baker said. The Halo Trust began clearance of this vast area in April 2012 and has now cleared eight square kilometers of the total area in Muhamalai. During the event, deminers who have rendered their services for 10-20 years received long service awards. Several areas such as the fishing village of Nagar Kovil in the North of Muhamalai were returned to beneficiaries and they now engage in fishing and farming in safe environments.   

Pic by Pradeep Pathirana