Cablegate: Official Informal Number 56 (04-09-03)

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000611

SIPDIS

OFFICIAL INFORMAL

DEPARTMENT FOR SA/INS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CE MV AGMT
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 56 (04-09-03)

1. The Ministry of Defense today officially indicated
its intent to co-host, with the United States Army
Pacific, the annual Peacekeeping Multi-Platoon Event
(PKO-MPE) in 2004. The Army Commander, LTG Balagalle has
directed his staff to investigate establishment of a
peacekeeping school for the Army and sought approval
through MOD to host this event as a way of showing Sri
Lanka's serious intent to participate in peacekeeping
operations in the future. The Army currently has four
Military Observers serving on UNPKOs in the Near East and
two officers attending the US-funded peacekeeping school
in Bangladesh. The MPE was held in years past in
Bangladesh and Nepal and is attended by platoons from
South Asian nations, the United States and the United
Nations.

WILLS

© Scoop Media