Army Contingent for UN Mission in Lebanon ready to leave

The Sri Lankan contingent for the 12th Force Protection Company (FPC) for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIL) is expected to leave by thrid week of this month following its customary Passing Out at the Sinha Regimental Headquarters in Ambepussa yesterday, Defence ministry said. 

The Sri Lanka Army contingent for the UN Mission in Lebanon is comprised of 10 officers and 140 other rank personnel drawn from several Regiments. Initially the first advance party of the SLFPU Contingent including seven officers and forty three soldiers is expected to leave the country during the third week of this month (February). The local Contingent, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel R.W.K Hewage will leave for Lebanon during18-19 February and 6 March (2018).

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, 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 (2017), 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).