The MOU was signed by Mr. Austin Fernando, Secretary, Ministry of Defense. Mr. James F. Entwistle, Chargé d'Affaires at the United States Embassy, represented the U.S. Government.

Under the terms of the agreement, six demining experts - including four Americans - will train Sri Lankan military personnel in techniques to demine Sri Lankan soil to international standard. The training will cost approximately 2.2 million dollars. It will begin on August 24 and is scheduled to continue through February 2004.

The training provided under this program is a continuation of U.S. assistance in demining Sri Lanka. In April-October 2002 an American-funded Quick Reaction Demining Force (QRDF) removed nearly 1,000 mines and 150 items of unexploded ordnance from 121,348 square meters of land on the Jaffna Peninsula. In March-July 2003 a second QRDF cleared an additional 120,000 square meters.

The objective of this new phase of demining assistance is to prepare Sri Lankan military forces to clear mined areas of Sri Lanka to international standards. In signing the grant, Mr. Entwistle noted that "the American Embassy is proud to be able to assist the people and Government of Sri Lanka in this important step of rehabilitation and reconstruction." The Chargé emphasized that the training responds to "priorities set by the Sri Lankan government." He noted that "resulting demining will be undertaken for the benefit of all Sri Lankans - Tamil, Sinhalese, and Muslim - and will help Sri Lankan self-sufficiency in demining."