SLN orders Demining Group to leave Jaffna islets

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 April 2006, 02:23 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) command in Jaffna islets has ordered the Danish Demining Group (DDG) and its work force to immediately stop demining activities and leave the islets, civil society sources said. The DDG has moved with its workers from its offices in Kayts and have relocated to Jaffna town, DDG officials said.

The suboffices of the DDG was created in Kayts following the siging of the MoU between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers in 2002, when the Department of Defense allowed permission for the demining group to operate in the islets.

DDG recruited and trained local residents for demining work.

Demining work in the islet areas has been stopped with effect from Friday, civil society sources said.