Archives

Demining and peace prospects

Bridge-building between Northern and Southern Sri Lanka will be further upgraded and consolidated with the opening of the A 9 highway on April 8th. Thus will be added an important new dimension to current efforts to promote people-to-people contact among members of the principal communities.

It is encouraging to note that some key line ministries, including that handling defence, are in the forefront of efforts to open this highway, besides stepping-up efforts to provide humanitarian assistance and other essential requirements of the people of the North. Particularly laudable are moves to normalise transport services to and from the North. This will not only help in building bridges between North and South but also have the effect of enhancing human contact and promoting communication channels among the different segments of the population.

We hope the day won't be distant when local tourist traffic to and from the North-East would be a fact of life in this country.

We note with immense gladness in this context, accelerated efforts to demine areas of the North which were at one time the scene of relentless fighting. Stepped-up demining of the North is essential if normalcy is to be restored fully in it.

In addition to on-going demining operations we now learn that assistance will be forthcoming for this endeavour from the US State Department's, Quick Reaction Demining Force.

This input from the US, besides demonstrating its goodwill for Lanka's peace effort is likely to help clear the ground for the stabilization of civilian life in the once war-torn areas.

In fact these stepped-up demining operations are proof, among other things, of the principal parties' resolve to give peace a chance. It should be remembered that landmines constitute a highly lethal and destructive weapon of war.

Numerous have been the persons, both in Sri Lanka and other trouble spots of the world, who have been killed or maimed by landmines.

Given its concealed nature, the landmine has proved a most effective weapon of war in the hands of some.

That concerted efforts are now being made to clear the Northern peninsula of mines, testifies to the good intentions of the parties to the conflict.

Demining, then, has emerged as an important confidence - building measure. Its successful accomplishment could be used as a basis for further efforts at normalizing the situation in the North-East.

In fact the prospects are bright for concrete, positive efforts to steadily demilitarize Sri Lanka. Demining could spell the beginning of this process.

It is our hope that this positive momentum in the peace effort would be stepped up.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager