French Embassy condoles on death of demining worker in Vavuniya

The Embassy of France has expressed its sympathies over the death of Dominique Morin, an employee of ‘Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD)’ who died while he was engaged in demining operations in the North, near Vavuniya recently. 

In its statement, the Embassy states:

“We were deeply grieved when we heard about the death of Dominique Morin, employee of a non governmental organization, ‘Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD)’ in Sri Lanka. Dominique Morin, an expert in his job, died while he was engaged in demining operations in the North of the country, near Vavuniya.

“A former soldier, he had decided to commit himself as a mine disposal expert eight years ago and had started working in associations specialized in mine clearances in Sri Lanka. This highly dangerous task is essential for Sri Lanka in order to turn the page of an extraordinarily murderous conflict.

“We would like to pay tribute to the commitment and the courage of our compatriot for helping Sri Lankans to regain a normal life. In these difficult circumstances, we would like to express our deepest sympathy to his family, to his relatives and his colleagues.

“We would also like to remind that there are still 15,000 to 20,000 people in the world who die or get mutilated every year due to anti-personnel mines, explosive devices and more than 40 countries and territories remain polluted.

“Francegives high importance in fighting against anti-personnel mines, explosive devices from war as much as implementing the Ottawa Convention on the antipersonnel landmines ban.”