1. Sri Lanka        Sri Lanka is an Island in the Indian Ocean, South of Indian peninsula. It is separated by the Palk Strait. Sri Lanka can best introduced as the ? Pearl of the Indian Ocean?.  The famous Indian scholar and writer Valmiki named it as the "eternal green haven" in his great epic ?Ramayanaya?. Sri Lanka become an independent common wealth state in 04 Feb 1948.

2. The Ethnic Conflict and Mine Hazard      The present ethnic conflict between Tamil Separatists and the Sri Lankan forces began in 1983. It clams more than 60000 lives, Billions worth of state and private property during last 19 years. The mine hazard had been risen tremendously during this period. Hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankan lost their limbs by this deadly weapon used by Rebels and the forces, in the entire Island.

3. The Mine areas/sites         The government forces and the Separatists have laid various types of mines in northern and eastern provinces in Sri Lanka during the past era. This hazard was mainly effected the northern peninsula where the main conflict took placed since 1983.

4. The Present De-mining Programme   The sappers were task to carryout De -mining in these areas to resettle displaced civilians, function government administrative machinery, to reopen the new passage to the  war tone area etc. A separate sapper unit was earmarked and tasked for De-mining in Jaffna, the northern part of the Island to expedite the resettlement. The balance sapper Regiments involve in routine field Engineer tasks, including recovery of mines in their respective Tactical areas of responsibility.

5. The Drill use by De-miners          The De-miners mainly adopted a practical method in collaboration with the conventional mine recovery systems, for de-mining. These systems varied from ground to ground and situation to situation. The centre type guide method is the principle method used by the De-miners in northern Sri Lanka. The min strength consisted in a De-miner team is 0 x 10.  They appx clear 10m x 6m area during an hour duration excluding 15 to 25 min resting time. The entire mined area is equally divided within the Fd Engr Sqn and the Sqn Comd is task for the job.

6. The Tools / Eqpts/ Accessories  used by De-miners

a. Eye Goggles.

b. Mine Shoes

c. Mine Plodders

d. Mine Detectors / Metal Detectors

e. Hook and Line Set

f. Mine Markers

g. Visor Helmets

h. Exploder Dynamo

i. Fragmentation Jacket / Body Armor

j. White Tapes

k. Flexible Wire Reels

l. Trip Wire Feelers

m. Materials for Recording

 7. Recoveries

8. Prob Faced by De-miners

a. Lack of Records

b. Lack of Sophisticated Eqpt.

c. The Undergrowth

d. Continuous De-mining

e. Lack of Periodical Trg.

f. Lack of Experts Trg Facilities and Opportunities.

g. Poor Administrative Backup Support.

9.  The future needs reqd by De-miners

a. The use of Modern Techniques/Eqpts.

b. The Proper modern trg for De-miners.

c. The use of Detecting dogs.

d. A Proper recording systems during laying by all parties.

e. A system to educate civilians on mines (Mine Awareness Programme)

10. Conclusion

11. Questions