Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Engages with Senior UN Officials in New York

A high-level Sri Lankan delegation led by the Secretary of Defence Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) held a series of meetings with senior officials of the United Nations at its Headquarters in New York City on 22 April (2026), in connection with ongoing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) negotiations for the proposed Gang Suppression Force (GSF) deployment to Haiti.

The delegation included the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, H.E. Jayantha Jayasooriya, the Military Advisor of Sri Lanka to the UN, and other senior officials.

During the visit, the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary met with Atul Khare, Under-Secretary- General for Operational Support, and Michael Mulinge Kitivi, Director of the Uniformed Capabilities Support Division (UCSD) under the Office of Supply Chain Management (OSCM) of the Department of Operational Support (DOS), along with representatives from the UN Human Rights mechanisms.

Discussions focused on the prospective deployment of Sri Lankan troops to Haiti under the proposed Gang Suppression Force, with particular emphasis on operational readiness, compliance with UN standards, and adherence to human rights requirements. The importance of a robust and transparent human rights screening process for all personnel was a key area of deliberation.

The Sri Lankan delegation highlighted that the Government of Sri Lanka is currently in the process of developing a comprehensive National Human Rights Vetting Mechanism applicable to all troops deploying for UN field missions, including the proposed GSF deployment to Haiti. This initiative reflects Sri Lanka's continued commitment to upholding international standards and ensuring accountability in peace support operations.

It was further noted that Sri Lanka is working in close coordination with the UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka to develop and operationalize this vetting framework, ensuring alignment with UN guidelines and best practices.