r Ministry of Defence - Sri Lanka

UN Special Representative Tweets Saying Sri Lankan Contingent in Mali "a Tremendous Asset"

January 28, 2022

Mr El Ghassim Wane, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Mali and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) during a meeting with a visiting Sri Lankan delegation early this week has expressed appreciation for the Sri Lanka Army Combat Convoy Company (LKACCC) serving in landlocked Mali, tweeting that "LKACCC is a tremendous asset for United Nations MINUSMA" and that he appreciates "excellent performance of LKACCC members in protecting MINUSMA convoys in a challenging environment".

A Sri Lankan delegation, composed of Major General Indu Samarakoon, Commander, Logistic Command, Major General Dammi Hewage, Director General Infantry and Major General Hirosha Wanigasekera, Master General Ordnance who were in Mali during 12-19 January on a routine fact-finding and updating mission called on Mr El Ghassim Wane, Mali-based representative of the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres with a view to receiving a routine feedback on the LKACCC's roles in Mali.

In the aftermath of the meeting, the UN Special Representative tweeted that he appreciated the excellent performance of the LKACCC.

At present, the Sri Lanka's 3rd contingent (LKACCC), including 20 Officers and 223 Other Ranks, is engaged in convoy protection duties in Mali, a country marred by tribal violence. Since the year 2017, the Sri Lanka Army has been dispatching combat convoy troops to Mali as requested by the UN.

The reproduced tweet is as follows:

Courtesy - www.army.lk