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SL earns over USD 161mn from UN peacekeeping

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14 April 2018 02:54 am - 10     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Sri Lanka Army has earned more than USD 161 million from UN peacekeeping missions since 2004, Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake said on Thursday.

 He said this at the opening ceremony of the Directorate for Overseas Operations (DOO) at the Old Dutch Building in Colombo 3.

“Since 2004, Sri Lanka has been earning a minimum of USD 2.5 million per annum from peacekeeping missions overseas. The troops deployed for such assignments benefit financially and through these undertakings, the country amasses foreign remittances that are utilised to train more and more soldiers. Since 1955, a number of 18,179 members attached to the Sri Lanka Army have extended their invaluable services to UN peacekeeping missions. The contingents are currently engaged in peacekeeping missions in Lebanon (UNIFIL), South Sudan (UNMISS), Mali (MINUSMA), Abyei (UNISFA), New York (UNHQ), Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and Western Sahara (MINURSO), either as military observers, staff officers or officer assistants or general contingent troops,” he said.

The DOO Defence Secretary declared open the ‘Mansion of Peace’ (Sama Madura) building at the complex, which is established to handle international peacekeeping and overseas operational commitments under the Director General, Staff Branch.

“Our vision towards world peace is to contribute an effective combat outfit under the United Nations to achieve sustainable peace in conflict zones. Fast changing political dynamics have become a complex and multi-dimensional challenge,” the Army Commander said.

Earlier, the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) insisted that feasible clearance for such deployments should be sought from the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission (SLHRC) by vetting respective overseas bound UN candidates before their departure. Meanwhile, DG of the Directorate for Overseas Operations, Major General Mervyn Perera said future peacekeeping deployments, training and other activities related to overseas operations would be handled by the DOO.(Darshana Sanjeewa)


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  Comments - 10

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  • Jonson Friday, 13 April 2018 11:02 PM

    But very pathetic the forces couldnt maintain peace in recent kandy riot in spite of emergency law and curfew was imposed. via DM Android App

    Vimal Carlos Saturday, 14 April 2018 03:11 AM

    Its not the forces job, its the police!!

    concern Saturday, 14 April 2018 03:45 AM

    That is because they did not get paid

    Gamaya Saturday, 14 April 2018 09:12 AM

    Mr Janson Forces only act on orders. Dont blame them.

    Leel Saturday, 14 April 2018 12:36 PM

    Soon SL has to bring peace keeper from some other country like Nepal or some MORE neutral country.

    Beggar Saturday, 14 April 2018 07:05 PM

    We send our Young women to Muslim Middle East to earn foreign exchange. We send our forces to UN to earn foreign exchange. Is there any place we can send our politicians to earn foreign exchange ? ?

    GH Saturday, 14 April 2018 11:00 PM

    The question is, where were those money gone?

    Rohan Sunday, 15 April 2018 07:31 AM

    Now our goons in politics will waste this money in no time for their security, helicopter rides, office rent and upgrades, foreign tours etc etc.

    Bindu Sunday, 15 April 2018 09:27 AM

    Our people do well in foreign countries

    public Sunday, 15 April 2018 07:19 PM

    161 million over 14 years? we spend over 2 billion USD annually on defence. SL defence force is need of restructure, troop reduction and increase potency.


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