NewsOnly 25% of the troops from Sri Lanka presently engaged in peacekeeping operations will be replaced, when they complete their term in Lebanon, a statement from the Foreign Ministry said. The discussions took place as Sri Lanka sought clarification on a statement made on September 25, 2019 by the Deputy Spokesman of the UN Secretary General relating to Sri Lankan troops bing deployed for UN Peacekeeping. Previously the United Nations suspended Sri Lankan Army deployments to its peacekeeping operations following the appointment of Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva as its Army chief. Aryasingha had pointed out that the appointment of the Army Chief has no links to the army personnel who are “thoroughly” and “jointly vetted” for peacekeeping operations. Accordingly, the Foreign Secretary had requested the UNDPO to review its decision “in the context of the facts” presented by the Sri Lankan government in this regard.

Source: Sunday Times September 28, 2019 11:48 UTC