5th CCC of the Army Leaves for UN Peacekeeping in Mali

One more contingent of well-trained and meticulously-prepared Army personnel in the 5th Combat Convoy Company (CCC), designed to serve in the United Nations (UN) Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) left for Mali Saturday (July 01) evening as the first segment of 170 troops out of the full contingent of 243, set to leave in stages.

Major General G.R.R.P Jayawardana RWP RSP ndu, Colonel of the Regiment, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) and Quarter Master General (QMG) at the Army HQ was at the Bandaranaike International Airport departure terminal to see them off.

Extending best wishes to Mali-bound first group of 20 Officers and 150 Other Ranks, Major General G.R.R.P Jayawardana and Senior Officers shared a few thoughts with Colonel W.W.N.P Wickramarachchi of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, Commanding Officer of the contingent, Major A.D Bandaranayake of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps, Second-in-Command of the CCC and other members of the contingent.

The 5th CCC is comprised of Officers and Other Ranks of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR), Sri Lanka Armoured Corps (SLAC), Sri Lanka Engineers (SLE), Sri Lanka Signal Corps (SLSC), Mechanized Infantry Regiment (MIR), Corps of Engineer Services (CES), Sri Lanka Army Service Corps (SLASC), Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps (SLAMC), Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps (SLAOC), Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (SLEME), Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police (SLCMP), Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps (SLAGSC) and Sri Lanka National Guard (SLNG). The majority in the contingent is made up of SLSR troops.

Adding memories, the group afterwards posed for a photograph with Senior Officers, present at the airport. The remainder of the contingent will leave for Mali on 29 August.

Brigadier K.L.S.S Liyanagama RWP RSP, Director, Directorate of Movement, Brigadier C.S Thibbotuge, SLSR Centre Commandant, Senior Officers, Other Ranks and family members of the contingent were at the airport to bid goodbye to them.

Earlier, a Guard of Honour parade, held at the SLSR Regimental HQ grounds saluted the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu.