To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) financial and (b) technical assistance the Government plans to provide to Sri Lanka for de-mining the former conflict zones in the north of the country; and if he will make a statement. (281975)

The Department for International Development (DFID) recently committed an additional £5 million of humanitarian funding for continuing life-saving response activities as well as early recovery work. Our early recovery work will include de-mining and we stand by ready to support funds for humanitarian de-mining agencies with strong capacity in country such as the Mines Action Group (MAG). DFID is providing no financial or technical support for humanitarian de-mining activities directly to the Government of Sri Lanka.