The resettlement of Internally Displaced People and a Mine Free Sri Lanka by 2009 is our vision for the country, Japanese Ambassador Kiyoshi Araki said yesterday. He was speaking at a press briefing at the Japanese Embassy after signing an agreement to fund humanitarian de mining activities in the North and East of Sri Lanka. The conference was attended by Mr. Steen Wettersen, programme Manager for Danish De mining Group (DDG), Mr. Marc Bonnet of the Swiss Foundation for mine action (FSD) and Mr. M.S. Jayasinghe of the Ministry of Nation Building and Mr.Tomohiro Kawabata, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan. Mr. Kiyoshi Araki signed the two grant contracts with the representatives from DDG and FSD. Mr. Marc Bonnet in his speech said that the ultimate objective is to get people to resume their normal life adding that continuous support is required for this purpose. Mr. M.S. Jayasinghe who represented the Ministry of Nation Building noted that it was a great occasion for the people of Sri Lanka taking into account the donation from Japan is valued at 170 million rupees (US$ 1.6 Million). The FSD project carried out in 2007 and 2008 directly supported 730 families to resettle and restart their normal life in conflict affected areas. The DDG project carried out in 2007 and 2008 also directly contributed to the resettlement of 938 families and expects to resettle an additional 500 families in Trincomalee and Jaffna. Japan has contributed more than US$ 15 million for mine clearance activities through INGOs as well as for the creation of the De-mining Unit of the Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation (DUTRM) in Sri Lanka since 2003 through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots human security Projects (GGP).