The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, observed annually on 29 May, is an occasion to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in UN peacekeeping operations and to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace.
A wreath-laying ceremony was held this afternoon, 29 May 2015, at the Institute of Peace Support Operations Training (IPSOT- Sri Lanka) in Kukuleganga with the participation of the United Nations Acting Resident Coordinator Beth Crawford as Chief Guest to honour the memory of 6 Sri Lankan Peacekeepers who lost their lives while on duty in peace operations.
S/310553 Cpl Wijesinghe HM
S/309967 L/Cpl Jayasighe JBAJ
From the Sri Lanka Light infantry
S/514272 L/Cpl Jayantha APP
S/508381 WO II Puspkumara APC
From the Vijayabahu infantry Regiment
S/600518 S/Sgt Priyawansa HMT
From the Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps
S/69990 Cpl Hemachandre DAG
From the Sri Lanka Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
Director General, General Staff of the Sri Lanka Army Major General BA Perera, Director of the Directorate of Training of the SrI Lanka Army Brigadier KPA Jayasekara and Commandant of IPSOT-Sri Lanka Brigadier HPNK Jayapathirana also attended the event, together with officers and other ranks from the Sri Lanka Air Force, Navy and Army.
Currently, Sri Lanka has a total of 694 military personnel serving in UN Peacekeeping Missions in Haiti (MINUSTAH), Central African Republic (MINUSCA), South Sudan (UNMISS), Lebanon (UNIFIL), Congo (MONUSCO), and Western Sahara (MINURSO) with 72 police personnel serving in 3 Missions in Haiti, South Sudan and Liberia (UNMIL).
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka
Colombo
29 May 2015
