Award-winning actor highlights Sri Lanka’s progress towards becoming landmine-free
COLOMBO, August 8: Globe, Emmy and Olivier Award-winning actor and Mines Advisory Group (MAG) Ambassador Rosamund Pike is visiting Sri Lanka this week as the country marks a major milestone in its humanitarian mine-action programme — the clearance of one million landmines over the past 17 years.
Pike’s visit highlights the significant progress made by Sri Lanka’s mine-action sector and the importance of maintaining momentum towards the country’s goal of becoming landmine-free.
During her visit, Pike is spending time with Sri Lankan deminers and visiting minefields in Mannar and Mullaitivu in the north of the country.
She is also meeting families from both Tamil and Sinhala communities whose lives have been affected by landmine contamination, including a survivor of a landmine accident.
Pike is further scheduled to attend a mine-risk education session at a local school, where children are being taught how to identify and avoid the dangers posed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Meeting Sri Lankan officials
As part of her visit, Pike is also expected to meet Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, the Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, and officials of the Mine Action Centre.
The discussions are expected to focus on Sri Lanka’s progress in humanitarian mine action and the work that remains to be completed to achieve a completely landmine-free future.
The United Kingdom, together with international partners, has supported humanitarian mine-action efforts in Sri Lanka since the end of the conflict.
Mine clearance has played a crucial role in helping communities affected by the conflict regain safe access to their homes and land, while also creating opportunities for agriculture, housing, infrastructure development and new livelihoods.
“Restoring the land to safety”
Speaking about her visit, Rosamund Pike said that having witnessed MAG’s work around the world, she has repeatedly seen the importance of mine clearance and risk education in countries recovering from civil wars.
She said there is a sense of reconciliation in restoring contaminated land to safety and described MAG’s programme in Sri Lanka as an inspiration.
Pike also praised the courage and teamwork of Sri Lankan deminers, as well as the organisation’s training and strict safety procedures for workers carrying out the dangerous task of mine clearance.
She stressed that when contaminated land is cleared and returned to communities, people can once again safely use it for farming, walking and meeting their daily needs.
Pike also warned that the threat remains real even 17 years after the end of the conflict, particularly because unexploded ordnance can still pose a deadly danger.
“As a mother, I fear that children who have never experienced war might experience it second-hand through a step in the wrong direction,” she said, adding that witnessing MAG’s work in Sri Lanka gave her confidence that the end of such tragedies is within sight.
Landmine casualties fall dramatically
Sri Lanka has cleared one million landmines over the past 17 years, marking a major achievement in the country’s efforts to address the legacy of the conflict.
Annual casualties linked to landmines have fallen dramatically — from approximately 250 per year to just three in 2024.
Mine clearance has also helped enable approximately one million displaced people to return to their homes.
UK praises Sri Lanka’s progress
British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick described Sri Lanka’s progress towards becoming landmine-free as a remarkable achievement.
He credited the courage and dedication of Sri Lankan deminers, the leadership of the Government of Sri Lanka and the support of international partners for the progress achieved so far.
The United Kingdom, he said, was proud to have supported the effort.
Pike’s visit, he added, highlights both how far Sri Lanka has come and the need to maintain momentum until all communities affected by landmines are safe.
MAG operating across seven districts
The Mines Advisory Group (MAG) began working in Sri Lanka in 2002.
The organisation currently operates in Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara districts.
Since beginning its operations in Sri Lanka, MAG teams have made approximately 103 square kilometres of land safe for families and communities.
With the country continuing its efforts towards a landmine-free future, humanitarian mine clearance remains an important part of post-conflict recovery, community resettlement and long-term development in affected areas.
