Another batch of Sri Lanka army troops to leave for Lebanon on UN peacekeeping

The 12th Sri Lanka Army Force Protection Company (FPC) for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIL) will leave the country to assume force protection duties in Lebanon shortly.

The Sri Lankan contingent held its customary passing out at the Sinha Regimental Headquarters in Ambepussa on 7 February.

The 12th Sri Lanka’s Force Protection Unit (SLFPU) comprising 10 officers and 140 other rankers drawn from several regiments will replace the currently serving 11th contingent.

Initially, the first advance party of the SLFPU contingent, including seven officers and 43 soldiers, is expected to leave the country during the third week of February. The local contingent, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel R.W.K. Hewage will leave for Lebanon during 18-19 February and 6 March.

The Sri Lankan FPU in Lebanon is responsible for security and VIP duties at the UNIFIL Force Headquarters in Naquoura and controls all the access routes to the UNIFIL Headquarters and is under command to the Force Headquarters Support Unit (FHQSU) which is directly under the Force Commander.

Since 2010, the Sri Lanka Army has sent 11 contingents to serve in Lebanon at the request of the UNIFIL. The first one left in 2010.

In December last year, a 200-strong Sri Lankan contingent was also sent for a year-long stint in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).