US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Martin Kelly, who visited a demining site in Vavuniya, said the women deminers defy stereotypes of appropriate gender roles while at the same time performing a courageous service in the rebuilding of their communities. DCM Kelly visited a Mines Advisory Group (MAG) demining site on Monday to observe the painstaking measures undertaken to clear explosive hazards in the area and speak with a team of female deminers, the US Embassy said today. We’re grateful for the women deminers’ contributions to helping Sri Lanka become mine-free,” DCM Kelly said. “Since 1995, the United States has been the largest donor to humanitarian demining in Sri Lanka, providing over USD 78 million for operations and equipment. “US funding has also supported mine detection training for and has provided demining equipment to the Sri Lanka Army,” the Embassy said.

Source: The Nation March 11, 2021 13:52 UTC