Rosamund Pike visits Sri Lanka’s mine-clearing efforts

Sri Lanka is hosting a visit from Golden Globe, Emmy, and Olivier Award-winning actor Rosamund Pike this week, concurrent with the nation marking the removal of one million landmines over the past 17 years.

The Mines Advisory Group (MAG) ambassador aims to underscore the significant strides achieved by the local mine-action sector while emphasising the necessity of sustained efforts to ensure the country becomes entirely landmine-free.

The schedule involves spending time with local deminers and touring two distinct minefields situated in the northern districts of Mannar and Mullaitivu.

Conversations will take place with Tamil and Sinhala families impacted by landmine contamination, including an individual who survived a landmine incident.

Educational efforts are also highlighted, with an upcoming attendance at a risk-education session at a local school where students learn strategies to stay safe from landmines and unexploded ordnance.

High-level meetings are planned with Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya, the Minister of Housing Construction and Water Supply, and officials from the Mine Action Centre.

These discussions will focus on national progress regarding humanitarian mine action and the remaining tasks required to reach a landmine-free status.

The UK Government, alongside other international partners, has provided continuous backing for humanitarian mine action in the country since the conclusion of the internal conflict.

Clearing these hazards allows recovering communities to return to their residences and lands safely, creating pathways for agricultural activities, housing, infrastructure development, and fresh livelihood opportunities.

The necessity for mine clearance and risk education following civil war brings a true sense of reconciliation by restoring land to safety, noted Rosamund Pike.

She expressed deep inspiration toward the MAG programme in Sri Lanka, praising its courageous teamwork, moral integrity, excellent training, strict safety protocols, and internal organizational unity.

She added that complete trust returns to communities once decontaminated land gets released, though the painstaking work remains vital due to the ongoing deadly threat of unexploded ordnance.

Expressing maternal concern over the hidden dangers facing children, she noted that observing the active operations gives her confidence that an end to these tragedies remains within reach.

Sri Lanka's path toward becoming landmine-free stands as a remarkable milestone driven by the bravery of local deminers, government leadership, and international backing, stated British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick.

He affirmed the United Kingdom's pride in supporting these initiatives and noted that the ambassador's visit reinforces the need to keep up the momentum until every community remains safe.

Over the 17-year period, clearing one million landmines helped reduce annual casualties from roughly 250 down to three in 2024, while simultaneously allowing about one million displaced individuals to return home.

Operations by MAG in the country commenced in 2002, with current activities spanning the districts of Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Ampara.

The organisation successfully cleared approximately 103 km² of land for local families and communities since its inception.

Globally, the humanitarian organisation manages around 5,000 staff across more than 30 countries to locate and destroy explosive hazards.

The local branch employs 439 individuals, including 385 field staff, medics, and team leaders, with women comprising roughly 16% of the field workforce.