The customary UN medal parade, the prestigious military ceremony that appreciates the exemplary contribution made by any specific contingent in Haiti, saw its Sri Lankan contingent accord a salute to the visiting Chief Guest, Mr Edmond Mulet, Special Representative to UN Secretary General and Head of the Mission and to Major General Luiz Guilherme Paul Cruz, Force Commander. The parade is held once any contingent completes its three-month stay in Haiti under UN Peace Keeping Mission.
The ceremony for award of UN medals drew overwhelming admiration of the attendees due to its blend of military and cultural nature as elegantly and colourfully dressed traditional drummers, raban players, wood stick dancers and performing artists took the centre of stage.
The Sri Lankan UN contingent of 948 serving in Haiti at present is expected to return to Sri Lanka after completing their mission at the end of this year, enabling the next Sri Lankan contingent to take over duties.
Major General D. R. A. B Jayatilake, Commander, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force and the Colonel of the Regiment of Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) attended the medal parade as the special guest of honour, representing the Sri Lanka Army. Structural decorations that had been put up including a replica of a roaring Lion at the entrance to the parade ground greeted the invitees. The occasion was dignified and brought about a spirit of celebrations amidst fluttering UN and Sri Lankan National flags.
Sri Lankan Peace Keepers honoured the visiting Chief Guests and Haiti-based UN Force Commander after according a Guard Turn Out plus a special Guard of Honour to Mr Edmond Mulet, Special Representative to UN Secretary General (SRSG) and Head of the Mission of MINUSTAH, in accordance with military traditions.
The ceremony commenced after the Contingent Commander Colonel A. M. R Dharmasiri formally welcomed the invitees to the occasion, followed by observance of a two-minute silence in commemoration of more than three hundred thousand Haitians, wounded or perished in disasters, including all UN Peace Keepers who had laid their lives while in active service in Haiti.
MINUSTAH Force Commander Major General Luiz Guilherme Paul Cruz, during his address to the Medal recipients, extolled Sri Lankan contingent’s commendable and genuine services, rendered by the during their tour of duty in Haiti. The force commander also recognized the dedication and commitment of all SRIBAT (Sri Lanka Battalion) military personnel and the positive results of their commitments. He also stressed SRIBAT’s high standard of discipline and the excellent relationship with the local population. The Special Representative to Secretary General Mr Mulet, conveyed UN Secretary General’s greetings and appreciative gestures of goodwill to all members and their families in the Sri Lanka-bound contingent. Mr Edmond Mulet in turn, highlighted his gratitude for SRIBAT’s efforts and dedication to serve the people of Haiti. He paid a special tribute to all SRIBAT military personnel for the work they did as peacekeepers.
The smart parade turned further dignified as The Special Representative to Secretary General Mr Mulet pinned the first memorable UN Peace Keeping Medal on the Contingent Commander Colonel A. M. R Dharmasiri, followed by the Force Commander Major General Luiz Guilherme Paul Cruz, Military Chief of Staff Colonel Grant Dame and some other branch heads. Contingent Commanders of MINUSTAH afterwards reached out to each and every member in the parade while pinning memorable UN Peace Keeping Medal.
Towards the end of the military segment of the ceremony, Sri Lankan troops adding elegance and colour to the occasion impressed the spectators, by presenting a string of performances that depicted our cultural roots, ethos and heritage. Traditional ‘Pantheru Dancing’, ‘Wadiga Patuna’, ‘Lee Keli’, ‘Drum playing’, ‘Raban Netuma’ and a few other features staged on the occasion drew a thundering applause from the invitees.
The visiting Major General D. R. A. B Jayatilake shared his thoughts with the Chief Guest and other high ranking officials in the MINUSTAH who were present and discussed matters of concern to future Sri Lankan UN contingents.
Mayor for Leogane Mr Santos Alexis, Haiti, several senior citizens from the area and a group of distinguished senor military officers serving Haiti were associated with the day’s programme.
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