Seventy-seven families are scheduled to return to Pallaikuli village - which they fled in 2008 during heavy fighting between the Sri Lankan Army and the LTTE (Tamil Tigers) - following MAG's clearance of landmines and unexploded ordnance there.

Surrounded by rice paddy - essential to the livelihoods of the local people - Pallaikuli is situated in the middle of the heavily fought-over area in Mannar District known as the 'Rice Bowl'.

MAG uncovered a total of 276 mines and 212 items of unexploded ordnance in and around the village, enabling vital reconstruction work to be carried out and, once this is completed, 260 individuals to return.

By the end of October, nine families had already moved back, able to now feel free to live and work in their village without fear.

How the work was done:

The total area of the village and surrounds is more than 3.5km². MAG initially sent in a Community Liaison team to conduct an assessment of the area.

Following submission of the subsequent report to the District Mine Action Office in Vavuniya, around 2.6km² was declared low-risk. The remaining area required follow-on action due to the suspected presence of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO).

A Mechanical Team equipped with a 'Bozena-4' flail was deployed in May to undertake this work. Following the expansion of MAG's capacity in August 2009, additional Mine Action Teams were deployed at the site, which meant that the clearance process could be completed quicker.

A safety briefing was held by MAG staff for returnees on 31 October at the school, which is currently being renovated. The villagers were briefed on the activities undertaken by MAG and the dangerous items found. They were then walked around the village to see the areas cleared and locations where mines and UXO had been found.