The United States Government recently donated de mining equipment to the Sri Lankan Army’s School of Military Engineering. At a ceremony in Embilipitiya, on April 2, the U.S. Embassy’s Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Edward Heartney presented Brigadier Udaya Nanyakkara and Lieutenant Colonel Rajindra Dias with helmets, vests and visors for students of the School of Military Engineering to use during de mining training.A press statement by US embassy in Colombo said that the donation marks the latest contribution by the U.S. to assist the Sri Lankan Government and Military with de mining operations in the North. During the past year, the U.S. has donated over 770 million rupees ($6.7 million) for de mining activities.The donation marked the culmination of a joint project between specialists from the U.S. and Sri Lankan militaries. For 10 days, the U.S. team worked alongside Sri Lankan Army Engineering instructors to develop training exercises to improve the safety and effectiveness of mine clearing activities.