Army’s newest contingent leaves for UN assignment in Mali

The first group of 100 Sri Lanka Army personnel in the newest contingent of 243 Army personnel of the Combat Convoy Company (CCC), left Sri Lanka last week to serve in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

Chief of Defense Staff and Army Commander General Shavendra Silva added compliments to the departing troops prior their departure to the land locked West African country, the Army stated.

The Mali-bound CCC (Phase IV) contingent of 243 troops of 12 Regiments of the Army scheduled to leave in stages is commanded by Col. Chandana Jayamaha.

The contingent is comprised of Army Officers and Other Ranks of the Gemunu Watch (GW), the 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 Ordnance Corps (SLAOC), Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (SLEME), Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police (SLCMP), Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps (SLAMC) and the Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps (SLAGSC), the Army also added. Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Vikum Liyanage, a few senior officers, Officers and Other Ranks were also present at the Airport to greet the Mali-bound troops.