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Sri Lanka Army

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20th October 2017 18:20:05 Hours

UNIFIL Sri Lankan Contingent Awarded UN Medals

Sri Lankan Officers and Other Ranks, who have now completed their assignment in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were awarded customary UN Medals in appreciation of their service and dedication to the duties in the UNIFIL on Monday (9).

UNIFIL Force Commander, Major General Michael Beary as the Chief Guest for the awarding ceremony in the company of Ambassador for Sri Lanka in Lebanon, Ms H.M.G.R.R.K Wijerathna Mendis presented the appreciative UN medal to the Sri Lankan Peacekeepers in Naquora, Lebanon.

As the special representative for Commander of the Army, Major General Dampath Fernando, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army (DCOS) and Colonel of the Regiment, Gemunu Watch (GW) was there in Lebanon and graced the medal parade of the 11th Sri Lanka Contingent.

During the day of awarding, the Sri Lankan delegation, led by Major General Dampath Fernando inspected equipment, facilities and other arrangements in place for Sri Lankan troops serving the UNIFIL afterwards.

Lieutenant Colonel C.A Rajapaksha, Commanding Officer, 11th Sri Lanka Contingent after a formal military salute welcomed the visiting Major General Dampath Fernando, DCOS on arrival at the premises.

He also met the Force Commander Major General Michael Beary who is also the Head of the Mission and exchanged cordial views and mementos. Afterwards, Major General Dampath Fernando was invited to sign the Visitors’ Book as a gesture of memory.

UN medal is an international decoration, awarded by the UN to all troops contributing to worldwide peacekeeping missions in specific countries on humanitarian grounds.

A total of 10 Officers and 140 Other Ranks serving the United Nations mission received medals during this brief ceremony, in which Major General Michael Beary praised the valuable contribution of the Sri Lankan troops. A new Sri Lankan contingent is to replace them shortly.

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

Since the year 2010, Sri Lanka Army has to-date dispatched 10 such contingents to serve in Lebanon at the request of the UNIFIL.

Brigadier Prashantha Senevirathne, Director, Directorate of Staff Duties at the Army Headquarters, Colonel Manjula Wijesinghe, Commandant, Central Arms and Ammunition Depot (CAAD) of the Sri Lanka Army, Commanding Officers of other Contingents and senior military Officers of the Lebanon Army were also present in the awarding ceremony.

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