Second Army contingent to leave in December

UN peacekeeping mission in Mali

The second contingent of 260-strong Combat Convoy Company (CCC) of the Army will leave for United Nations Multi-dimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA) in Mali for UN peacekeeping assignments in December this year.

The Army said twenty (20) officers and 240 other rankers will undertake responsibilities in Mali as the replacement for the first CCC of the Sri Lanka Army who are scheduled to return upon completion of their one-year tenure in Mali in December, this year.

A total of 19,000 members of the Sri Lanka Army have to-date served in UN peacekeeping missions either as Combat Troops, Military Observers (156), Staff Officers or as Assistants to Staff Officers in several parts of the world.

The Sri Lanka Army which was recognized globally as a UN troop contributing country (TCC), as of today 150 Army members in Lebanon are serving the UN Interim Force (UNIFIL), 66 members in the UN mission in Sudan with Level 2 hospital in South Sudan (UNMISS), 65 all ranks in MINUSMA (Mali), 26 Army Officers in UN Staff Officer Missions and a group of 18 Officers including 2 lady Officers in the Western Sahara, Congo, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Abyei and New York.

During their overseas duties, 3 Sri Lankan Peacekeepers had died during 2005 and 2007.

Meanwhile, prior to the departure and induction in Mali of the second contingent, Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake has directed the Director General, General Staff Branch to launch a mock Field Training Exercise (FTX) to this effect, enabling those Mali-bound (CCC) troops to develop mission orientation and competency before they undertake tasks in Mali.

The designed FTX covering the North, North-central provinces and a section of the Eastern province is to be launched accordingly during October 18 - 24 under the command of Brigadier Jayantha Gunaratne as the Exercise Director ‘FTX - Harmattan - 2’.

The ‘FTX - Harmattan - 2’, comprised of 10 Regiments of the Army will exercise their challenges under simulated threat conditions prevailing in Mali.

The ‘FTX - Harmattan - 2’ of 680 km in distance will cover the general areas of Chundikulam, Manalkadu, Pooneryn, Veditalativu, Mannar, Oyamaduwa, Mahadiwulwewa, Panmadawachchiya, Therunamaranwadiya, Mullaittivu, Paranthan and Kuweini Junction at Iyakkachchi.

The CCC is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel K.L.I. Karunanayake with Major P.G.J Suriyasena as his Second in Command.