In northern Sri Lanka, one of the areas most affected by the civil war, the sound of explosions is no longer synonymous with fear. Today those controlled detonations mark the liberation of the territory from mines. Indeed, after sixteen years of work, the British non-profit organization HALO Trust has announced that it has removed its 300,000th mine, an achievement that represents not just a figure, but the concrete symbol of lives saved and communities rebuilt.
The conflict between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has devastated the country for over thirty years, leaving behind an invisible and lethal legacy: landmines. Since the end of the war in 2009, HALO Trust has operated in the areas of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya, where bombs scattered across the fields prevented any return to normality. Today, after twenty years of constant efforts, 120 km² of land have been reclaimed and returned to 280,000 displaced inhabitants who have been able to return to their homes.
A territory that is finally reborn
Behind the numbers, there are people’s stories. Like that of Vithoozen Antony, Operations Manager of HALO Sri Lanka:
These mines were laid when I was still in primary school. I remember hearing about it in the newspapers. Today I am proud to be part of the team that removes them. Reaching 300,000 mines removed is not just a number: it means lives saved and lands returned.
Antony’s words contain the essence of a project that is not limited to physical security: the liberated areas are now encouraging the return of agriculture, tourism and social life.
The cities of Jaffna and Kilinochchi, once symbols of destruction, are preparing to welcome new visitors. The ancient Nallur Kandaswamy temple, the beaches and lagoons of the region become accessible again, opening up new prospects for sustainable development.
HALO’s work does not stop: the goal is to completely free the territory from mines within the next few years. Because every mine removed is a step towards true peace, the one that is built under the feet of those who finally return home.
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