When the war finally concluded in 2009 it was estimated that as many as one million landmines and items of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) remained as a deadly legacy of the conflict. Based on surveys conducted after the war a total of 2.065 km2 of land was designated as Confirmed Hazardous Areas. This feature explores the use of Information Communications Technology (ICT) in the day to day operations of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), an international mine action agency deployed in Sri Lanka.
The location is Puthukudiyiruppu township in Mullaitivu District of Northern Sri Lanka, once the nerve centre of LTTE operations and the scene of the last stages of the civil war. Four years on, the main street is flanked with shells of buildings. The walls that still stand, are aerated by bullet holes the size of your fist. It is hard to imagine that this was once someone’s neighbourhood, their route to school or work; their home. Development is everywhere. Schools, churches and hospitals are being rebuilt, flood lights illuminate roadwork at night and your mobile phone hardly ever drops out.
Photographer and a producer were accompanied on training or live hazardous areas by Technical Operations Manager Andrew Crump. All photography was conducted under his direct supervision in safe and controlled environments.
For details and significant research around each photo, please click here.
