NGO vehicle detention carrying humanitarian demining equipment

On Wednesday 30th January a Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) vehicle travelling from its logistical base in Anuradhapura to Vavuniya carrying Non Food Relief Items (NFRIs) and a box containing locally-manufactured humanitarian demining fabric vest covers for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was routinely stopped at the police checkpoint in Medawachchiya. Upon opening the box of PPE vest covers, the police impounded the vehicle and arrested both the lorry driver and accompanying storekeeper.
In a recent shift between storage depots in Anuradhapura one box of fabric PPE vest covers was left in the truck containing the NFRIs. These humanitarian demining fabric covers are used to cover deminers’ PPEs and have no armoured function or protective properties whatsoever. Allegations that these PPE vest covers are bullet-proof are unfounded, nor were these vest covers enroute to the Vanni.
NPA has been involved in Mine Action and Development in Sri Lanka since 2002 under the approval and direction of the National Steering Committee for Mine Action under the Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development.