Strengthening Mine Action in Sri Lanka: GICHD Engages with New Ministry Leadership

A delegation from the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), comprising Ms. Åsa Massleberg, Programme Manager and Senior Advisor for Strategic Planning, and Mr. Sri Mallikarachchi, Information Management Specialist seconded from GICHD to NMAC, met with the newly appointed Secretary to the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, Eng. L. Kumudu Lal Bogahawatta. The purpose of the meeting was to introduce GICHD’s long-standing technical support to the Sri Lanka Mine Action Programme and to discuss current strategic priorities.

During the discussion, the delegation highlighted GICHD’s engagement with Sri Lanka since 2010, emphasizing its contributions in national capacity-building, information management, and strategic planning. The reviewed Mine Action Completion Strategy 2023-2025 , its key strategic objective was presented. Progress in mine clearance and related activities was discussed, together with an overview of Sri Lanka’s national commitments under Article 5 of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC)

It was highlighted that, due to unknown or newly identified contamination and declining donor financial resources, it will not be possible for Sri Lanka to meet its Article 5 obligations by the current deadline of June 2028. Based on existing data, survey outputs, and ongoing completion survey findings, and as stated in the reviewed National Mine Action Strategy, Sri Lanka will submit an Article 5 extension request by March 2027. To support this, the Completion Survey dashboard and contamination mapping were presented, providing the Secretary and participants with a clear understanding of the current ground situation and the importance of timely decision-making.

The meeting was also attended by Mr. M. H. M. P. Zameel, Additional Secretary, Mr. Jayasundara, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Housing, Construction & Water Supply, and the Deputy Director  for Mine Action Mr. Mahinda Wickramasingha and  staff members of NMAC.