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Deminers prepare ground for livelihoods pushing through funding challenges
View(s):By Kevin de Alwis
Clearing Sri Lanka’s remaining landmines is not only dangerous it is expensive, time-consuming, and increasingly underfunded. Despite steady progress over the years, The HALO Trust now faces mounting financial and operational challenges that threaten efforts to clear all mines from Sri Lanka by 2028 under the Ottawa Convention.
“It costs about US$4 (about Rs 1,239) to clear just one square metre of contaminated land,” explained Hugh Baker, Programme Manager for The HALO Trust in Sri Lanka. “To sustain operations, we require close to US$8 million (about Rs 2.47 billion) annually, yet international humanitarian funding has declined. As a result, we’ve been forced to reduce teams at a time when newly identified contamination has actually increased.”
Farzana Badueland
Recent national surveys have expanded Sri Lanka’s remaining contaminated land to 22 square kilometres, while climate-related disruptions have further complicated clearance. Flooding and extreme weather events, including the impact of the Ditwah cyclone, have shifted landmines into areas previously declared safe, forcing HALO teams to re-survey land. This increases costs and takes more time.
“Unlike many post-conflict countries, mines in Sri Lanka are not confined to open land,” said Farzana Badueland of The HALO Trust. “They are found in jungles, lagoons, coastal areas, and even artificial earthworks created during the war. When floods occur, mines can move, meaning land must be checked again to ensure safety.”
Against this backdrop, HALO continues its mission which has operated since 2002, mainly in the Northern Province. Districts such as Jaffna, Kilinochchi, and Mullaitivu remain heavily mined due to prolonged fighting, large-scale fortifications, and repeated displacement.
This year marks a significant milestone, with HALO on track to clear its 300,000th landmine in Jaffna alone. “For communities that lived with fear for decades, this milestone represents freedom,” Ms Badueland noted. “It means children can walk to school safely, farmers can cultivate their land, and families can rebuild homes without fear of hidden danger.”
Mine clearance in the North is closely linked to resettlement and economic recovery. HALO prioritises land needed for housing, agriculture, schools, roads, and public infrastructure, working in coordination with local authorities and affected communities. “The goal is not just clearance,” Ms Badueland said. “It is restoring dignity and opportunity.”
Hugh Baker. Pix by Akila Jayawardena
A key strength of HALO’s Sri Lanka programme is its reliance on local deminers, many of whom come from mine-affected communities themselves. Of HALO’s workforce of around 850 staff, the vast majority are Sri Lankans. Women make up about 42% of operational teams, often leading units in technically demanding roles.
“Local deminers bring trust, knowledge, and long-term sustainability to the programme,” Mr Baker explained. “Women in particular have become household breadwinners and community leaders, reshaping social norms, while doing some of the most hazardous work imaginable.”
In addition to landmines, unexploded ordnance including mortars, artillery shells, and grenades pose serious risks. These devices are often unstable and buried deep underground, making clearance highly technical and dangerous.
As operations gradually scale down, HALO is also planning for life beyond mine removal. Skills development, savings schemes, and livelihood transition programmes are being introduced to ensure long-term stability for deminers.
“Our responsibility doesn’t end when the last mine is removed,” Ms Badueland said. “We want to ensure communities and workers are equipped for a safe and sustainable future.”
However, Mr Baker stressed that achieving a mine-free Sri Lanka by 2028 will require broader support, including from Sri Lankan corporates, CSR programmes, and philanthropic foundations, in addition to traditional international donors.
“Clearing landmines is not only a humanitarian necessity,” he concluded. “It is an investment in national recovery, economic development, and environmental safety. Without renewed support, progress will slow and the cost of delay will be far greater.”
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