The formal conclusion of the Sri Lankan Peace Keeping contingent assignment in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) took place at the Sri Lankan Peace Keeping Contingent (SRIBAT) Headquarters in Leogane, Haiti on Saturday (16).
Sri Lankan contingent, mainly comprised of Army personnel, as one of the longest serving foreign missions in Haiti after undertaking responsibilities way back in 2004, has deployed a total of 17,904 Sri Lankan Peace Keepers on six-month rotation basis, belonging to 20 Sri Lankan contingents in the past 11 years.
The final 20th SRIBAT batch, including Army, Navy and Air Force personnel reported for duties in MINUSTAH (Haiti) on December 7, 2014 is scheduled to return to the island in the final week of May, 2015 after official formalities are over.
Mr Carl Alexander, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General (Deputy SRSG), graced the final closing ceremony as the Chief Guest at Leogane. Lieutenant General Jose Luiz Jaborandy Jr., Force Commander, together with the Deputy Force Commander and the Police Commissioner in MINUSTAH also attended the ceremony to officially bid farewell to the Sri Lankan contingent.
In his address to the occasion, Deputy SRSG spoke high of more than 10 years of invaluable services, rendered by all 20 Sri Lankan contingents in the MINUSTAH and appreciated distinguished roles of the SRIBAT, particularly in times of national disasters and earthquakes during their deployment in the MINUSTAH.
Deputy SRSG went on record saying that the Pearl of the Caribbean is renowned as Haiti and the Sri Lankan Peace Keepers are from the Pearl of the Indian Ocean who did a great service during their tenure with outstanding performances.
In appreciation of the SRIBAT services, a symbolic monument was unveiled at the SRIBAT Headquarters on the same occasion which summarized the unforgettable SRIBAT services during 2004 - 2015.
Departing Sri Lankan contingent saluted the day’s Chief Guest, Deputy SRSG on arrival and greeted him with a special Guard Turnout and a Guard of Honour as part of military formalities.
The farewell ceremony turned emotional and added elegance as a group of children of the nearby Orphanage Maison Notre Dame de La Charite in Leogane impressed the attendees by singing special songs, praising the SRIBAT and expressed their gratitude to the departing SRIBAT troops
Towards the final leg of the day’s ceremony, SRIBAT contingent Commander, Colonel Asoka Wijenayake presented mementos to the day’s special guest, Deputy SRSG and the Force Commander as tokens of goodwill and memory.
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