In the past few days the United Nations and Sri Lanka had been engaged in more than one area such as addressing domestic and international political and economic issues on one hand and human rights and so on, on the other.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe not only addressed the UN General Assembly (UNGA) but also sought time to engage with world leaders and others on the sidelines of the international conference to discuss various issues that would be beneficial to the country
The President, no doubt did bump into individuals that represent countries including the US who have forwarded a resolution against Sri Lanka citing alleged human rights violations and actrocities during the tail end of the military campaign against the Tamil separatists from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009 which is currently being hammered out in Geneva.
The resolution also deals with LTTE excesses but on a lighter tone while the bulk of the questions have been addressed to the Sri Lankan Government.
However, it is interesting to note that Sri Lankan soldiers have shed their blood, sweat and in some cases made the supreme sacrifice while trying to maintain the peace in vulnerable spots in the world while attached to the United Nations Peace Keeping Force also known as the ‘Blue Helmets’.
To date five Sri Lankans soldiers have been killed and seven others injured while trying to maintain the peace with the Blue Helmets and more casualties could be expected without a warning as there are hundreds more currently based in several trouble spots in Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere.
According to top most military officials in Colombo Sri Lankan troops have dared to venture into areas were others have feared fully aware of the dangers that confront them in unknown terrain.
According to the officials, the Sri Lankan troops are even prepared to take up more fresh operations if ever required by the UNPKF irrespective of the ground situation in the vulnerable hot spots.
The decision to withdraw from the West African nation of Mali that is practically administered by a junta and infested with Islamic extremists is simply because the UN body had taken a collective decision to pull out from that country for apparent safety reasons, the official said.
Over the past six decades, the United Nations has evolved into a sophisticated and multi-faceted global effort. South East Asia is the region that contributes the most troops to UN peacekeeping. Sri Lanka has been a member state since 1955 and has been active in UN peacekeeping operations since 1957.
Sri Lanka is now a committed partner for UN peacekeeping operations with over thousand men from the three Armed Forces and the Police serving in seven different Peacekeeping Missions.
The country is now placed in the 20thposition in terms of troop contributions for Peacekeeping. Sri Lankan peacekeepers have been commended by the United Nations for their professionalism and commitment on many occasions.
Sri Lanka also became one of the first Troop Contributor on reaching the 15 percent mark on deploying of Female Military Experts in Missions.
The United Nations has honoured peacekeepers from over forty Member States, including Sri Lanka, who laid down their lives during 2007.
In recognition of their service and as a tribute to the fallen Blue-Helmets, the United Nations posthumously awarded 90 peacekeepers with the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal at a solemn ceremony held in the United Nations Headquarters in New York on May 29, 2008.
Since 2004 five Sri Lankan peacekeepers have made the supreme sacrifice for global peace while on duty. A further six Sri Lankan peace keepers have also sustained injuries while on duty since 2004.
Maiden engagement in peacekeeping
Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) joined the UN in 1955 and then served as a member of the 1956 Advisory Committee, which led to the establishment of the first ‘classical’ peacekeeping mission of the United Nations Operational Force in Lebanon (UNOFIL) deployed to assist in completing the 1956 Suez War and contributed to establishing the UNOFIL by deploying few officers as Military Observers.
In 1958, the turmoil in Lebanon required the United Nations involvement and accordingly an observer group was stationed there. Ceylon, on this occasion, responded to the UN request and sent five officers as part of the observer team.
It was the first such contingent from Ceylon on a UN assignment. They were Maj B I Loyalla CA, Capt BC Henricus CCMP, Capt A P R David CLI, Capt S C Ranatunga CAC and Capt P L Crozier 2nd Volunteer Ceylon Engineers.
Capt S C Ranathunga on the Israeli – Lebanese border.
Historical Engagement
The Sri Lanka Army has contributed to global peace by deploying a strong Contingent comprised of 750 members and 1 Staff Officer to the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) in 2004. Subsequently, it extended up to 11Staff Officers to the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti.
In 2004, 750 Contingent members and 1 Staff Officer served at the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) as the 1st contingent and another 200 troops from Sri Lanka Army, Navy and Air Force also joined as the 2nd contingent to the initial mission and the mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) was terminated in 2015.
It made Sri Lanka a recognised Troop Contributing Country (TCC) in the UN international peacekeeping domain. The role played by Sri Lankan troops in Haiti in bringing normalcy to the country has endorsed Sri Lanka as a successful and effective peacekeeper.
The Level 2 Hospital under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) that has been deployed in 2014 turned a new chapter as it was the first time that Sri Lanka Army or any organisation in Sri Lanka employed a team of medical professionals under the ‘Blue Helmet’.
The Sri Lanka Army has again deployed a Force Protection Company in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in 2010 with a 150-member strong contingent, and it is being assigned at present for the security of the Mission Headquarters in Naqoura, as the VIP protection when the Force Commander travels out from the camp premises for high delegation meetings and visits.
Moreover, the latest deployment of the Sri Lanka Army is the 243-member strong Combat Convoy Company deployed in Mali (MINUSMA) since December 2017, and at present it is executing the combat convoy duties
Present UN Deployment of Sri Lanka Army
As at present, Sri Lanka Army troops are deployed in 3 x UN missions: United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
Force Protection Company in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
Sri Lankan Force Protection Company in Lebanon has been deployed since December 2010. The prime role of the Force Protection Company is to ensure the Security of the Force Headquarters Compound where all Command elements, branches and all key personnel including the Head of Mission and Force Commander are accommodated.
Tasks that are entrusted with, ranging from control of all movements in UNIFIL HQ camp gates (Autlog Gate, HQ Gate, Hospital Gate and New Hospital Gate), providing security for the UNIFIL HQ in Naqoura and to UN Vessel “Carolyn”, maintain and standby Force Commander’s mobile Command post. Providing escorts and protection for VIPs and other personnel, (Triparty Meeting in Blue Line,1-32°) providing protection and orderly duties to the Force Commander at the office premises as well as giving protection to the UN Mil staff, civil staff and the UN properties under imminent threat of physical violence and also providing Guard of Honour for VIPs and senior military delegations are their designated responsibilities.
Level 2 Hospitals in South Sudan (UNMISS)
Sri Lanka Army Level 2 Hospital in South Sudan has been deployed since May 2014, and presently 62 Medical Staff and 04 Consultant Doctors are serving at the 9th Contingent of the Level2 hospital in South Sudan.
This Level 2 Hospital has been established to provide second line health care including emergency resuscitation, stabilisation, limb and lifesaving surgical interventions, basic dental care and casualty evacuation to the next level of medical care (Level III in Nairobi, Entebbe). This service is available to all United Nations personnel irrespective of military, civilian, UN Police or locally engaged staff in the mission.
Combat Convoy Company in Mali (MINUSMA)
Sri Lankan Combat Convoy Company in Mali has been deployed since December 2017 and it is comprised of 243 member contingent. Presently, 20 Officers and 223 other ranks are serving at the 5th Combat convoy company in Mali.
Due to the existing situation in Mali, the MINUSMA mission will be terminated on December15, 2023. The Combat Convoy Company is to conduct two convoys at peak times simultaneously and it is self-sustained, including convoy control (complete with HF radio and GPS), recovery, medical support, mobile curb side refuelling, water and workshop vehicles operating over extended ranges of up to 1,000 kilometres.
It is mainly entrusted with the movement of cargo containers (primarily 20 ft containers), movement of bulk fuel and potable water, providing of crane/forklift capacity for loading and unloading containers, providing a 10 MT rough terrain forklift for the movement of limited cargo at each team site, providing heavy recovery capability (Heavy trucks and APCs) and provide heavy lift capability and so on. MINUSMA had experienced many terrorist activities during the past few years. As at present, Sri Lanka Army has deployed 434 members as peacekeepers in three UN missions. Since its inception, Sri Lanka Army had contributed 20,520 troops to date as follows:
Historical Engagement
The Sri Lanka Navy commenced its involvement in UN peacekeeping missions in 2005 when it deployed 1 Officer and 49 sailors to United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti. This engagement continued until 2015. In 2005, two Observers, Rear Admiral MHN Peiris and Captain Basnayake, were deployed to South Sudan.
Resumed Deployments in 2020
SLN resumed its participation in UN peacekeeping missions in 2020, with Staff Officers and Observers deployed to UNIFIL and MINUSRO. Presently, there are three SLN Officers serving in UN Missions:
SLN Contribution for Peace Keeping
Since 2005, SLN has deployed a total of 38 officers and 834 sailors in UN Contingents. Seven SLN officers have served as Staff Officers & Observers. Surg. Capt N.L. Ulluvisheva served as a Resident Physician in South Sudan from November 15, 2021, to March 6, 2023.
Pledge Confirmation for Next Fiscal Year
SLN has confirmed the following pledges for the next fiscal year (on 16 Jan 23):
a. Force protection (LKA – 22/23 – 957): 01 Unit with 117 members.
b. Demining/EOD unit (LKA – 22/23 – 956): 01 Unit with 28 members.
c. Maritime unit (LKA – 23/24 – 1074): 01 Unit with 70 members.
Female peacekeepers
Probably, Sri Lanka could boast of having female soldiers who actively participated in combat and related duties, in the contemporary world.
Female cadres of Sri Lanka Army have engaged in all aspects of war fighting from the inception, from combat to medical service, administration, transportation and even in the post-war area in all the activities in the reconciliation and rehabilitation process.
Apart from being a female soldier, it’s potential to approach as a mother, a sister and a social worker to children, women, old and other vulnerable groups had emerged as an irreplaceable asset in the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka, thus without any doubt that would be of immense value to the UN and the respected international community in achieving its noble goals in assisting people in conflicted areas.
For the first time in the Sri Lanka Army UN mission’s history, Sri Lanka Army has deployed eight female peacekeepers with the infantry contingent including one lady officer and the seven other ranks in 2022 with the 13th Force Protection Company.
Sri Lanka also became one of the first Troop Contributor on reaching the 15 percent mark on deploying of Female Military Experts in Missions.
Peacekeepers injured and laid down their lives
24. The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was critical compared to the other UN missions and it had experienced many terrorist activities.
During the Mali missions, a considerable number of peacekeepers were injured.
Captain H.W.D Jayawickrama (O/66912) – 11 Sri Lanka Light Infantry and Corporal S.S Wijekumara (S/826934) – 1 Mechanized Infantry Regiment of the Sri Lankan Army died while performing peacekeeping duties in Mali.
25. Cpl Wijesinghe H M(S/310553) of 6SLLI was the first Sri Lankan Army soldier who died in UN peacekeeping Operation. He was killed during the peacekeeping operation in Petit Goave, Haiti on March 20 2005 when the UN troops stormed to take control of a Police Station from a terrorist group.Further, out of 8 peacekeepers, 06 peacekeepers from Haiti have sacrificed their lives during the peacekeeping operations.
As of now, one officer and seven other ranks of Sri Lanka Army Peacekeepers who laid down their lives during the United Nations peacekeeping mission duties as follows:
a. O/66912Captain H.W.D Jayawickrama – 11 SLLI
b. S/826934 Corporal S.S Wijekumara – 1 MIR
c. S/310553 Cpl Wijesinghe H M – 6 SLLI
d. S/309967 Cpl Jayasinghe J B A J -10 SLLI
e. S/508381 WO II Pushpakumara A G S RspUsp – 11 VIR
f. S/514272 L/Cpl Jayarathna A P J – 4VIR
g. S/600518 S/Sgt Priyawansha H M T – 1SLAOC
h. S/69990 Cpl Hemachandra D A G – 1 SLEME
Sri Lanka is one of the few countries that could provide peacekeepers for any UN mission, ranging from combat to post conflict rehabilitation activities. meticulous planning, mission-oriented training of military, police and civilian personnel, who are not equipped and ready only for prevailing threats, but also for eventualities that could be anticipated considering the experience and current trends will be of great value and necessary factors in the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping missions on the ground.
Today, Sri Lanka continues to provide invaluable multirole contingents to critical and challenging UN peacekeeping missions in Mali, South Sudan, and Lebanon. Gaining lessons from Sri Lanka’s past operational experience, the Sri Lanka Military is enthusiastically poised to operate effectively in low-intensity conflict situations. The Sri Lanka Military’s extraordinarily wide competences, which include disaster relief, rapid humanitarian aid, nation building, rehabilitation, resettlement and reconciliation, would undoubtedly enhance the United Nations’ efficiency in numerous war zones.
