Actress Rosamund Pike meets PM, discusses Sri Lanka's mine-free future

Hollywood actress Rosamund Pike met with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya at the Prime Minister's Office in Colombo to discuss the nation's ongoing mine clearance efforts. Pike, who serves as an international ambassador for the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), highlighted that the program to clear landmines, active in Sri Lanka for decades, is now in its final phase.

Before meeting the Prime Minister, Pike visited the northern districts of Mannar and Mullaitivu to witness firsthand the mine removal operations. She engaged with and spoke kindly to the Sinhalese and Tamil individuals involved in these high-risk operations. Pike acknowledged the commitment of the staff working tirelessly to clear the landmines and also participated in mine awareness programs conducted in schools located in areas prone to landmine accidents.

“

The program to clear landmines, active in Sri Lanka for decades, is now in its final phase.

The article states that over 90% of land previously contaminated with landmines has been cleared. This has enabled approximately one million people, displaced by the conflict, to return to their original homes. Currently, only a small area of 20.8 square kilometers remains as a potential landmine risk zone. Pike indicated that efforts are underway to double the budget for mine clearance in this remaining area, with the goal of making Sri Lanka completely free of landmines within the next four years. This would position Sri Lanka among the first nations globally to be free from landmine threats.

With the successful eradication of landmines, the country anticipates accelerated development in agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure in its northern and eastern regions.

“

We will double the provisions for mine clearance in the remaining land, and steps will be taken to make Sri Lanka a country completely free of landmines within the next four years.