Colombo: The United States has commended Sri Lanka's efforts of resettling the internally displaced people at the end of the three-decade-old war.
"I commend the Government's efforts in resettling most of those who were internally displaced by the fighting," Patricia Butenis, the US ambassador to Sri Lanka said yesterday at an event to handover five ambulances to the Sri Lanka Army to assist in humanitarian demining efforts in north.
"Demining is an essential element of this resettlement process," she said.
"Due to the heroic efforts of the Sri Lankan Army and Sri Lankan and international demining organisations, large swaths of the North and East are now cleared of mines. However, much work still remains and our continuing support will enable the process to be completed more quickly," she added.
The US has contributed over Rs 1.10 billion ( USD 10 million) in funding, equipment and training to help the Sri Lankan Army and international humanitarian demining organisations to clear the areas of the North and East since 2009.
PTI
First Published: Friday, December 24, 2010, 11:38