Colombo: A local employee of an international de-mining outfit was killed in an accidental explosion in the north Sri Lankan town of Jaffna, police said on Monday. The victim, a resident of the district of Kilinochchi working for the UK-based HALO Trust, was clearing mines in Muhamalai in Jaffna when the explosion took place. Between 2002 and October 2012, HALO Sri Lanka had cleared over 650 hectares (1,607 acres) of minefields and systematic Battle Area Clearance of over 1,640 hectares (4,052 acres) whilst destroying over 143,000 landmines, 51,500 items of large caliber ammunition and 440,000 bullets.
HALO's de-mining teams work alongside Sri Lankan Army's de-mining teams in battle zones of the island's brutal three-decade long civil war that claimed nearly 100,000 lives. This work was focused on over 500 mainly high-density minefields and former battlefields of the war that ended in 2009 with Sri Lankan forces defeating the LTTE.
FSD, another de-mining organisation from Switzerland, last week said their work has been hampered by cutting of financial contributions by international donors. More than 5,000 square kilometres of land in the north and east was suspected to be heavily mined by the LTTE during the conflict. Less than five per cent of the area remains to be cleared of mines, the army said in February this year.
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05:05 PM, Apr 08, 2013
A day after India lodged a strong protest against detention of its fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy, a court in the island nation on Friday ordered the release of 34 fishermen, officials of a fishermen association here said. ...
06:01 PM, Mar 15, 2013
There were reports that the film has a reference to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. ...
01:05 PM, Dec 23, 2012
The most versatile actor of modern India, Mohanlal who mesmerised Bollywood with his performance in films like 'Company' and 'Aag' is getting more offers from Hindi industry. The actor who had been in Priyadarshan's recent Hindi flick 'Tezz' is reported to be called in for another cameo role in Priyan's new movie also. But, the recent report is all about the actor John Abraham, a half-malayalee, who has openly expressed...
06:24 PM, Oct 21, 2012
Chennai: War-torn Jaffna in Sri Lanka had a musical symphony earlier this month. Carnatic vocalists TM Krishna and P Unnikrishnan, along with Bharatnatyam dancer Alarmel Valli enthralled Jaffna with their performances and workshops for three days. These artistes from Chennai participated in the three-day event called 'Divine Ecstasy', set up by TM Krishna. "In a way it is re-inforcing a cultural depth they already had. You are not introducing anything...
09:03 AM, Sep 14, 2012
Mumbai: Bengali superstar Prosenjit, who has won accolades for his performance in 'Shanghai', is likely to be cast in Shoojit Sircar's political thriller 'Jaffna'. The film will be directed by Shoojit and produced by actor John Abraham. The two had earlier teamed up for 'Vicky Donor', which did good business at box office. 'Jaffna' is based on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the civil war in the...
07:15 PM, Jun 12, 2012
New Delhi: Shoojit Sircar's 'Vicky Donor' has struck gold with critics as well as the box office but the director says he never expected the film would be lauded so much, especially by the general audience. 'Vicky Donor' was Shoojit's first release six years after 'Yahaan' came and the filmmaker says before its release he was quite sure only college goers would turn up for a film on sperm donation....
01:01 PM, May 01, 2012
Mumbai: Just when one thought John Abraham has left behind his experimental phase of 'No Smoking' and 'Kabul Express', the actor has agreed to work in 'Jaffna', a political thriller about LTTE's activities in Sri Lanka. The film will be directed by Shoojit Sircar, who has just wrapped up the shooting of 'Vicky Donor', which is his breezy satire on sperm donation, featuring veejay Ayushmaan in the lead. And John...
08:17 PM, Feb 28, 2012
Colombo: External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on Wednesday flew from by chopper to Kilinochchi on way to Jaffna in the northern province of Sri Lanka to meet ethnic Tamils. He will gift medical equipment to the district general hospital at Kilinochchi on the third day of his four-day visit after fruitful official talks on Tuesday with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister DM Jayarathna and his counterpart GL Peiris...
01:04 PM, Jan 18, 2012
Rameswaram: A Sri Lankan Court on Monday extended the remand of five fishermen, arrested by Sri Lankan Navy in November last year on charges of drug smuggling, to January 16, officials in Rameswaram said. Vincent (42), Prashanth (32), Langlet (22), Emerson (36) and Augustus (33) were arrested by Sri Lankan Navy while fishing in mid-sea on November 28 and lodged in a prison in Jaffna on charges of drug smuggling....
08:11 AM, Jan 03, 2012
Tamil National Alliance asks people to support General Sarath Fonseka. ...
09:44 AM, Jan 25, 2010
Sri Lankan Prez had promised Tamils greater political voice through polls. ...
01:37 PM, Aug 09, 2009
Sri Lanka is ready to push tourism in a big way. ...
12:00 PM, Jul 22, 2009
LTTE is in a hopeless situation but refuses to give up, says SL govt. ...
09:25 AM, Feb 02, 2009
The Sri Lankan army has now seized the last LTTE-held area in Jaffna. ...
07:47 PM, Jan 15, 2009
Total government control has been established over the peninsula. ...
09:20 PM, Jan 14, 2009
Sri Lankan fighter jets pounded LTTE targets on Tuesday. ...
02:11 AM, Jan 14, 2009
Rajapaksa announced this in a nationally televised address. ...
06:07 PM, Jan 09, 2009
LTTE is banned in India, Centre should come down hard on its allies. ...
11:29 PM, Dec 10, 2008
The Sri Lankan army has stepped up its offensive on the LTTE strongholds. ...
01:47 PM, Oct 07, 2008
