From frontlines to farmlands : HALO Trust celebrates removal of 300,000 mines in Muhamali

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The HALO Trust marked a major milestone this month, celebrating the clearance of its 300,000th landmine in northern Sri Lanka. The achievement, announced during an event at the northern sector of the Muhamalai minefield today (18) represents over 120 square kilometres of land returned to communities after two decades of demining operations.

The northern sector of Muhamalai minefield, once Sri Lanka’s largest and most densely mined area, was officially declared safe after twelve years of painstaking work. Its clearance is expected to accelerate resettlement and development for displaced families. More than 280,000 former Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have already returned to their homes with support from HALO and partner agencies.

“This achievement will help restore resources for resettlement and peaceful living,” said Kilinochchi Government Agent Subramaniyam Muralithran. “It gives us confidence that the natural life of the mine-affected areas can be bravely rebuilt.”

The event, held on the cleared Muhamalai minefield, brought together community members, deminers, and officials from the Northern Province, the Canadian High Commission, and the National Mine Action Centre. A moment of silence was observed in honour of those who lost their lives and limbs in the course of mine clearance work.

Long service awards were also presented to HALO staffers who had served over 10 and 20 years, recognising their commitment to making Sri Lanka mine-free.

HALO Sri Lanka Operations Manager Vithoozen Antony reflected on the personal significance of the work: “These minefields were laid when I was still in primary school. Today, I’m proud to be part of the team leading their clearance. Reaching the milestone of 300,000 landmines removed is not just a number; it represents lives saved and land returned to communities.”

Since before the end of the war in 2009, HALO has worked to remove explosive remnants from key former front lines including Elephant Pass, Muhamalai, and Jaffna’s old railway station. While most of the land is now safe, clearance continues in remaining contaminated areas.

The event was attended by a range of government and humanitarian partners, including Mr. David Macdonald, Programme Officer of PM/WRA; Sinnathamby Theiventhan, Government Agent for both Kilinochchi and Jaffna; Muralitharan Subramaniyam, Assistant Government Agent for Poonakary; Vithoozen Antony, Operations Manager and Uthayakumar Arulnesan, Programme Manager for Jaffna from HALO Sri Lanka; Lynda Dearing, Director of Cooperation and Mujib Elethath, Counsellor from the Canadian High Commission; Ms. Marisa de Silva and Shanmathi Sritharan from the SHAPE Secretariat; Pathmarajah Tharmakulasingham, Government Agent of Mullaitivu; Assistant Government Agents G. Gowsikan (Puthukkudiyiruppu), G. Sathyadevi (Oddusuddan), and K. Sritharan (Maritimepattu); Shanmugalingam Thavaseelan, District Secretary of Mullaitivu; Ms. Subajini Thavarajah, NGO Coordinator, Mullaitivu; Ms. Reetha Ratnam, Civil Affairs Officer of the 57 Division, Sri Lanka Army; and planning officers Mr. M.V. Nageswaran (Kilinochchi), K. Kirupakaran (Jaffna), and K. Ketheeswaran from the Urban Development Authority.

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