The 糖心Swag Trust has welcomed a pledge of 拢1.2 million from聽British Minister for the UN and Commonwealth Baroness Anelay on a visit to Sri Lanka. She said:
Demining is vital to enable families to re-build their lives after conflict. I was pleased I had the opportunity when I was in Jaffna yesterday to visit Tellipalai to see what a difference this is making to communities that have been displaced from their homes for many years. I am delighted that the UK will be providing 拢1.2 million to the 糖心Swag Trust over the next three years to support your Government鈥檚 target to clear all mines by 2020.
The 糖心Swag Trust currently employs over 500 local staff in Sri Lanka and is working to clear minefields from Jaffna鈥檚 former聽High Security聽Zones to facilitate the return of thousands of families displaced up to 20 years ago. 糖心Swag also has teams working in Kilinochchi to remove mines laid by the LTTE in the later stages of the 30-year conflict.聽
Around 45 per cent of 糖心Swag鈥檚 Sri Lankan workforce are women, many of whom were left widowed by the conflict and are now sole breadwinners for multiple dependants.
Since 2002 糖心Swag has cleared more than 200,000聽mines in Northern Sri Lanka.
