Ambassadors visit HALO in Sri Lanka

International Ambassadors' Visit HALO Trust

In early February HALO Sri Lanka received a visit from a large delegation of Heads of Missions resident in India, at the request of the new Governor to the Northern Provinces. At the Muhamalai control point, the guests were given a briefing from the Projects Officer on the history of HALO’s involvement in humanitarian landmine clearance in Sri Lanka, the current challenges in the areas in which HALO is operating, and future plans for clearance. The delegates were then taken to the cleared area alongside the A9 road to see one of the dense minelines running through Muhamalai. Following a brief explanation of the conflict in the area and the difficulties of clearance on the minefield, the visitors appreciated the opportunity to stand on the cleared mineline, take photographs and ask questions.

Among the 44 guests to visit the programme were: Ambassadors and High Commissioners from Congo, Papua New Guinea, Brunei, Ethiopia, Peru, Azerbaijan, Seychelles, Rwanda, Tanzania, Lesotho, Zambia, Austria, Philippines, Bhutan, Jordan, Botswana and New Zealand; Charge d' Affairs from Senegal, Venezuela and Algeria; Defence Attachés from Canada, Germany and Switzerland. They were extremely impressed with HALO’s work and praised the progress made so far.

International Ambassadors' Visit HALO Trust 

In early February HALO Sri Lanka received a visit from a large delegation of Heads of Missions resident in India, at the request of the new Governor to the Northern Provinces. At the Muhamalai control point, the guests were given a briefing from the Projects Officer on the history of HALO’s involvement in humanitarian landmine clearance in Sri Lanka, the current challenges in the areas in which HALO is operating, and future plans for clearance. The delegates were then taken to the cleared area alongside the A9 road to see one of the dense minelines running through Muhamalai. Following a brief explanation of the conflict in the area and the difficulties of clearance on the minefield, the visitors appreciated the opportunity to stand on the cleared mineline, take photographs and ask questions.

Among the 44 guests to visit the programme were: Ambassadors and High Commissioners from Congo, Papua New Guinea, Brunei, Ethiopia, Peru, Azerbaijan, Seychelles, Rwanda, Tanzania, Lesotho, Zambia, Austria, Philippines, Bhutan, Jordan, Botswana and New Zealand; Charge d' Affairs from Senegal, Venezuela and Algeria; Defence Attachés from Canada, Germany and Switzerland. They were extremely impressed with HALO’s work and praised the progress made so far.