30th June 2023 15:08:56 Hours
Major General M.G.W.W.W.M.C.B Wickramasinghe RWP RSP ndu psc, Director General General Staff (DGGS) of the Army currently in Mali on a reconnaissance visit as the special representative of the Commander of the Army, prior to the new deployment of the CCC-B1 contingent for peacekeeping in the United Nations (UN) Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) later in September, this year had a fruitful dialogue with Brigadier General Meunier Jean-Michel, Mission Chief of Staff at MINUSMA Headquarters in Bamako on Thursday (29).
The cordial discussion took up several general matters of concern to the Sri Lankan deployment, its importance to the MINSUMA role and tasks and the performance of Sri Lankan peacekeeping missions in the past few years, despite life-threatening ground realities.
The Mission Chief of Staff at MINUSMA Headquarters in Bamako, Brigadier General Meunier Jean-Michel during the exchange of views was in full praise for the well-disciplined performance of Sri Lankan contingents serving in the MINUSMA and their committed professional contribution to peacekeeping in Mali under very trying circumstances. He also requested the visiting Major General M.G.W.W.W.M.C.B Wickramasinghe RWP RSP ndu psc to carry out a feasibility study to deploy more and more Sri Lankan contingents in the future as well as peace-keepers in the MINUSMA.
Earlier, Major General M.G.W.W.W.M.C.B Wickramasinghe RWP RSP ndu psc called on the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the MINUSMA, Mr M. El-Ghassim WANE, Acting Force Commander, Mission Chief of Staff and MINUSMA Headquarters in Gao, Mali and had a formal discussion on the planned new deployment of the CCC - B1 from Sri Lanka. They both explored practical aspects as regards the designated new deployment of peacekeepers and other ground realities in the terrains of Mali. The CCC - B1 contingent of Sri Lanka is composed of 22 Army Officers and 243 Other Ranks and has already completed their training before they undertake new responsibilities.
The visiting DGGS of the Sri Lanka Army also called at the Super Camp in Gao where the 4th Combat Convoy Contingent (CCC) is currently serving in Mali and interacted with respective Commanding Officers and troops in order to learn more about their well-being, needs and questions, if any. A Guard Turnout at the entrance greeted the DGGS on arrival there.
During his visit to the Super Camp HQ, Major General M.G.W.W.W.M.C.B Wickramasinghe RWP RSP ndu psc placing a floral wreath, saluted the memory of all fallen UN peace-keepers whilst on duty in Mali. He also inspected a fleet of Sri Lanka Army-manufactured combat vehicles, armoured personnel carriers, unibuffels, armoured cars, etc, now in use in Mali.
Colonel S.W.P.M.H.R Senadheera RWP USP psc, Contingent Commander, Combat Convoy Company - B1 (CCC- B1), Lieutenant Colonel S.M Bandaranayake RWP RSP, Logistic Officer of 4th CCC and Lieutenant Colonel H.M.W.R Herath, Supply and Transport Officer of 4th CCC were also associated with those meetings.
