Sri Lanka Army Combat Convoy Company receives high praise from Head of UN force in terrorist besieged Mali

Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Mali and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) El Ghassim Wane during a meeting with a visiting Sri Lankan delegation early this week has expressed appreciation for the Sri Lanka Army Combat Convoy Company (LKACCC) serving in landlocked Mali.

El Ghassim Wane said that “LKACCC is a tremendous asset for United Nations MINUSMA” and that he appreciates “excellent performance of LKACCC members in protecting MINUSMA convoys in a challenging environment”.

Earlier a Sri Lankan delegation, composed of Major General Indu Samarakoon, Commander, Logistic Command, Major General Dammi Hewage, Director General Infantry and Major General Hirosha Wanigasekera, Master General Ordnance who were in Mali between 12 and 19 January on a routine fact-finding and updating mission called on El Ghassim Wane, Mali-based representative of the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres with a view to receiving a routine feedback on the LKACCC’s roles in Mali.

In the aftermath of the meeting, the UN Special Representative tweeted that he appreciated the excellent performance of the LKACCC.

At present, the Sri Lanka’s 3rd contingent (LKACCC), including 20 Officers and 223 Other Ranks, is engaged in convoy protection duties in Mali, a country marred by tribal violence. Since the year 2017, the Sri Lanka Army has been dispatching combat convoy troops to Mali as requested by the UN.