Sri Lanka's Participation in the United Nations Peace-Keeping
Operations
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Sri Lankan
Peace-keepers in action in Haiti |
The first involvement of Sri Lanka in a UN Peace-Keeping Operation
was in 1960, where a group of six service personnel from Sri Lanka Army
led by Brigadier C T Caldera, were deployed in the Democratic Republic
of Congo (MONUC).
This first group was replaced in 1961, by a contingent led by
Brigadier J G Balthazar. Thereafter, for about four decades, there had
not been any involvement in peace-keeping missions by our troops, until
the Government of Sri Lanka deployed 2 military observers in Congo, in
2002.
Since then, as a Force Contributing Country, Sri Lanka has provided
the services of military and police personnel for UN Peace-Keeping
Operations in different conflict zones around the world namely, The UN
Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), UN Peace-Keeping Mission in
Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), UN Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS),
UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), UN Operation
in Burundi (ONUB), UN Mission in Cote d'lvoire (MINUCI), UN Mission in
Liberia (UNMIL), UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) and UN Office in
Timor-Leste (UNOTIL).
According to the records of Sri Lanka Army, about 1602
personnel had already completed their tour of duty with UN Peace-Keeping
Missions. They have served in different capacities which include
military observers and staff officers. Currently there are 1013 Sri
Lankan service personnel attached to UN Peace-Keeping Missions. Sri
Lanka ranks in the 15th place in terms of the contribution of military
and police personnel to UN Peace-Keeping Missions.
The individuals who have served in UN Missions have gained valuable
experience in peace support operations. Other than participating at
peacekeeping missions, Sri Lankan Security forces and police personnel
have actively participated and benefited from various training
programmes conducted by the UN to enhance the skills and capacities of
personnel involved in peace-keeping and related activities. The Multi
Platoon Training Exercises (MPE), conducted prior to deployments is one
such important activity. The third such MPE was held at the Institute of
Peace Support Operations Training (IPSOTSL) at Kukule Ganga, Sri Lanka.
This institute was established in 2004 with the main objective of
conducting pre/post deployment training of UN peace-keepers.
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L/Cpl Jayasinghe JBAJ
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Dag Hamersh”ld Medal
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L/Cpl Wijesinghe HM |
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Two Sri Lankans, Lance Corporal Jayasinghe Jasin
Bastiyan Arachchige Jayalath Jayasinghe and Lance Corporal Herath Mudiyanselage Wijesinghe
of Sri Lanka Army were killed in 2005 while serving in Haiti. These two
Sri Lankan servicemen were awarded the Dag Hammarskjold medal on 26th
May 2006, when the UN marked the International Day of UN Peace-Keepers.
Dag Hammershjold Medal is awarded posthumously to members of
peace-keeping operations who lost their lives while serving under UN
peace-keeping operations.
Source: Sri Lanka and the United Nation, 50 Years of Partnership -
Ministry of Foreign Affairs - 2006 |
