Sri Lanka–UN talks focus on Haiti troop deployment standards

Colombo, April 23 (Daily Mirror) - Discussions on the prospective deployment of Sri Lankan troops to Haiti under the proposed Gang Suppression Force (GSF), with a strong focus on operational readiness, compliance with UN standards, and adherence to human rights requirements, took centre stage during high-level talks between Sri Lanka and the United Nations in New York.

A Sri Lankan delegation led by Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha held a series of meetings with senior UN officials as part of ongoing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) negotiations related to the proposed deployment.

The delegation included Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN Jayantha Jayasooriya, the Military Advisor to the UN, and other senior officials. During the visit, the Defence Secretary met with Atul Khare, Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support, and Michael Mulinge Kitivi, Director of the Uniformed Capabilities Support Division, along with representatives of UN human rights mechanisms.

A key area of deliberation was the need for a robust and transparent human rights screening process for all personnel. The Sri Lankan side noted that the government is in the process of developing a comprehensive national human rights vetting mechanism applicable to all troops deploying for UN field missions, including the proposed Haiti deployment.

Sri Lanka also reaffirmed that it is working closely with the UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka to operationalize this framework in line with UN guidelines and best practices, underscoring its commitment to accountability in peace support operations.