THE ARMY ENGINEERS WINS THE WORLD BEST MINE DETECTION DOG (MDD) TEAM AWARD - 2016
The Marshall Legacy Institute is an international humanitarian organization dedicated to removing landmines and promoting stability has been assisting the Sri Lanka Army Humanitarian Demining Unit (SLA HDU) manages by Sri Lanka Army Engineers since 2003. They support SLA HDU in their humanitarian effort to clear landmines and Explosive Remnants of War by providing 26 Mine Detection Dogs and training with the assistance of private donors and the U.S. Department of State.
The Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI) annually organize the Gala event to celebrate the work of demining dogs and their contribution worldwide. The MLI selected Mine Detecting Dog (MDD) Alvin/ Madjesty with his handler Lance Corporal Nawarathne GNWM of of SLA HDU as the “Best MDD Team of the Year†at Annual “Clearing the Path†Gala 2016 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington D.C.
The Sri Lankan Mine Detection Team led by Brigadier Amith Seneviratne, Commander Engineer Brigade who manages the Sri Lanka Army Humanitarian Demining Unit (SLA HDU), together with the Mine Detection Dog Alvin and its handler Lance Corporal Nawarathne GNWM attended the ceremony. Dr Maidson and Jessica Homan, the donors of the dog also joined the Sri Lankan team at the ceremony.
According to the record, Alvin and its handler, Lance Corporal Nawarathne GNWM have de- mined and cleared a contaminated land area approximately 74000 square meters in the North and East and recovered 20 Rocket Propeller Grenades (RPGs), 48 grenades, 137 anti -personnel mines, 24 unexploded ordnance, 18 detonators and 243 ammunition and other explosive devices since 2011.
This is the Second instance that SLA HDU produced Best MDD team which Sapper Rohan DKN and Mine Detection Dog Cairo Spartacus were honored as the best Mine Detection Dog (MDD) Team -2012.
Ambassador Susan Rice, National Security of the United States was the Keynote speaker at this event which was graced among other notables like Senator Mike Enzi General (Rtd) Gordon Russell Sullivan and Hon Prasad Kariyawasam, the Ambassidor of Sri Lanka in USA.
