Brussels, 16/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided to allocate EUR 2 million in humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka. The funds, from the ECHO budget (the Community's Humanitarian Aid Office) will finance projects implemented by ECHO partners in favour of populations exposed to anti-personnel mines in the former conflict zone (minefield surveys, mine clearance operations, aid to mine victims and mine risk education). Commenting on this decision, Poul Nielson, Humanitarian Aid Commissioner, declares in a press release that "after almost twenty years of war, hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans now wish to return to their homes. The presence of huge numbers of landmines hinders the resettlement process. The European Commission is committed to help tackle this scourge which threatens the lives of so many returnees as well as resident populations".