17th May 2025 21:39:19 Hours
Major General Lanka Amarapala RWP RSP ndc psc, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army, met with Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, on the sidelines of the 2025 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin on 15 May 2025.
During the meeting, Major General Amarapala introduced Sri Lanka’s new Human Rights Screening and Vetting System, designed to ensure transparency, adaptability, and accountability in peacekeeping deployments. He expressed confidence that the comprehensive nature of the new vetting mechanism directly addresses previous concerns, thereby laying the groundwork for the potential lifting of the 2019 UN-imposed restrictions on Sri Lankan troop deployments.
He conveyed Sri Lanka’s readiness to increase its contribution to UN peacekeeping missions, including both military and police personnel. Notably, he underscored the nation's commitment to enhancing the participation of female officers and peacekeepers in future deployments; reflecting the country’s dedication to inclusivity and international standards.
Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix positively received Sri Lanka’s new vetting system and welcomed the opportunity for Sri Lankan peacekeepers to continue serving under the UN flag. He commended the unwavering dedication and commitment of Sri Lankan peacekeepers serving in missions such as MINUSMA in Mali and UNIFIL in Lebanon.
This meeting marks a pivotal step in strengthening Sri Lanka’s longstanding partnership with the United Nations and reinforces its position as a responsible and capable troop-contributing country.
Mr. Sadun Liyanwila, Counsellor at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Germany; Brigadier Sumal Wickramasekara, Military Advisor to the Permanent Mission in New York; and Superintendent of Police Mr. R.M. Wimalarathne were also present at the meeting.
