The Sri Lankan army de-miners have cleared over 40 million sq meters in the Wanni region. Addressing a special seminar on ‘International Law on Landmines & Explosive Remnants’, the Sri Lankan Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya said that approximately ten thousand mines and Unexploded Explosive Ordnance (UXOs) have been recovered up to date in the region.The Commander urged the international community to assist in speeding up army’s de-mining work by way of supply of more de-mining equipment and training more army personnel for such work.Meanwhile, the visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei V. Lavrov said that Sri Lanka was capable to face any international pressure on alleged war crimes or any other problems as it had a proper judicial system and the Russian government had always supported the Sri Lankan government to protect its national integrity. Russia would also continue to assist in the de-mining process by sending a team of de-mining experts and humanitarian assistance, the Russian Foreign Minister said.The Russian Foreign Minister called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa last evening at the President's House.In yet another case the Colombo High Court yesterday acquitted the ‘North Eastern Monthly’ magazine publisher Vetrivail Jaseeharan and his fianc’e who were charged under Emergency Regulations and the Prevention of Terrorism Act.Earlier on August 31, senior Journalist J. S. Tissainayagam was convicted and sentenced to 20 years rigorous imprisonment by the High Court of Colombo for writing articles to the same magazine.