18th February 2022 14:42:16 Hours
The United Nations is making great strides in the daunting task of bringing about world peace. The Sri Lanka Army is doing a commendable job by spreading its reputation among the countries that are providing troops for this organization, which is fulfilling its responsibility by providing peacekeepers to ensure the peace and security of the world's insecure countries.
Since its inception 2010 the Sri Lanka Army has to-date dispatched 12 such contingents to serve in Lebanon at the request of the UNIFIL. This time Lebanon-bound Sri Lanka’s Force Protection Unit (SLFPU) contingent is comprised of 10 officers and 115 Other Ranks and it has been made up of the troops from Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI), Sri Lanka Engineers (SLE), Sri Lanka Signal Corps (SLSC), Mechanized Infantry Regiment (MIR), Commando Regiment (CR), Special Forces (SF), Corps of Engineer Services (CES), Sri Lanka Army Service Corps (SLASC), Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps (SLAMC), Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (SLEME), Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps (SLAOC), Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police (SLCMP), Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps (SLAWC) and Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps (SLAGSC). The first group comprises with 08 Officers and 67 Other Ranks left the country on 05th February 2022.
A drive pass Guard Turnout at the entrance, presented by SLLI troops greeted the day’s Chief Guest upon his arrival at the entrance. Minutes after that, Major General Jagath Kodituwakku, Colonel of the Regiment, SLLI and Deputy Chief of Staff, welcomed the day’s Chief Guest formally and ushered him to the parade ground where the Parade Commander reported and requested the day’s Chief Guest to review the Guard of Honour, presented on his behalf. The ceremonial parade was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel SMDN Samarakoon RWP USP SLLI, Lieutenant Colonel WHMC Dharamwansa RSP USP MIR was the Second in Command and WO 1 Prasanna WAC was represented as the Regimental Sergeant Major. A significant milestone was the participation of a team of seven female soldiers, including a female IT officer and a female officer on field duty, for the first time in the history of the Sri Lankan Lebanese peacekeeping operation. Major General Vikum Liyanage, Chief of Staff, Major General Jagath Kodithuwakku, Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General Channa Weerasuriya, Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, Principal Staff Officers, Directors, SLLI Senior Officers, Officers, Other Ranks and a representative gathering of invitees joined the occasion. The orientation training session was started on 28th May 2021 by the Sri Lanka Peacekeeping Operations Training Institute -Kukuleganga, moreover the team has also participated in various military and vocational courses. Regiment wishes the 13th Force Protection Company (FPC), which is on its way to Lebanon to carry out peacekeeping missions based on UNIFIL Headquarters Security Forces and Security Forces at the Command Office, Lebanon. Greetings from all ranks of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry Regiment.
