President pays TRIBUTE TO UN Peacekeeping Force

President Maithripala Sirisena, who is in the US, yesterday paid tribute to the UN PeaceKeeping Force in which Sri Lankan soldiers were also serving and said the world was a safer place today because of the brave UN peacekeepers.

“On this occasion, let us remember and pay tribute to the hundreds of peacekeepers and staff members who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty over the years. Let us also recognize and commend their achievements,” he said.

President Sirisena expressed these views at the ‘World Leaders Summit on Peacekeeping’at the United Nations.

“UN peacekeeping operations have come a long way from its modest beginnings. Today they have evolved into a complex operation. This is an occasion to focus our attention on some of the challenges facing current UN peacekeeping operations.

The report of the High Level Panel on Peace Operations identifies Protection of civilians We consider Sri Lanka’s cooperation with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations as an extension of the Government’s policy of positive engagement with the UN following the Presidential Election in January this year. as a core obligation of the UN. The report observed that UN personnel must use every tool available to them to protect civilians under imminent threat. Sri Lanka recently accepted the Kigali Principles on the Protection of Civilians in peacekeeping.We hope that more countries will join this initiative.

“Current contributions by Sri Lanka to UN Peacekeeping stand at 529 including troops, Military Observers and Civilian Police. For more than five decades, Sri Lanka has been making modest contributions to UN peacekeeping efforts. We also hope that this meeting will focus on the importance of providing more resources to Peacekeeping Missions to carry out their mandates,” the President said.

In response to current gaps in UN peacekeeping Missions, Sri Lanka pledged two Combat Transport Companies, two Field Engineering platoons, one infantry battalion, two Special Force Companies, one Combat Engineering Company, three Infantry Battalions, one Explosive Ordinance Disposal Company, one Force Protection CompanyandtwoFormedPolice Units.

“We consider Sri Lanka’s cooperation with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations as an extension of the Government’s policy of positive engagement with the UN following the Presidential Election in January this year.On this occasion, I affirm Sri Lanka’s commitment to increase its contribution to UN peacekeeping. We are committed to ensuring the best possible training and assessment of peacekeepers in Sri Lanka to uphold the highest standards of peacekeeping,” the President said. “We are honoured to pledge significant contributions from the Sri Lanka Army,Air Force and Police and Sri Lanka is pleased to reiterate her continued commitment to UN peacekeeping.”