UN Resident Coordinator Hanaa Singer called on Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake at the Army Headquarters on Monday and extended her condolences on the tragic deaths of two Sri Lankan Peacekeepers in the Mali contingent (MINUSMA) a few days ago.
Singer, during the discussion, assured the Army Commander that she would help in whatever way possible to expedite the compensation for the victims and do everything in her capacity to alleviate the sorrow of the bereaved families, a statement issued by the Army said.
The UN Resident Representative condemned the attack and told the Commander that the UN Secretary General was deeply moved by the loss of the two Sri Lankan Peacekeepers. She said she would be at the Colombo airport to receive the remains and issue a special condolence message to be read out at the funeral.
Hanaa Singer said she would visit the bereaved families on Thursday (31) and be present at the funerals together with her officials at the Colombo office.
Lieutenant General Senanayake thanked her for the UN concerns and explained to her the funeral arrangements planned by the Army and the Regimental Headquarters.
Secretary to the visiting UN Resident Coordinator Major General Ruwan Kulatunga, Colonel of the Regiment, Light Infantry and Brigadier Prathap Thilakaratne, Director Overseas Operations at the Army Headquarters participated.
Captain H.W.D Jayawickrama of the 11 Sri Lanka Light Infantry from Polonnaruwa and Corporal S.S Wijekumara of the 1 Mechanized Infantry Regiment from Thalakolawewa, Polpithigama of the Army Contingent in Mali laid down their lives on Friday (25) following an explosion around 6.30 a.m. in the Keerana area when their WMZ convoy was attacked by a rebel group using an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
Three more Sri Lankan Peacekeepers sustained injuries and were admitted to the Level 2 Hospital at Gao in Mali.