Three Sri Lankan soldiers die in Mali attack

By Nuwan Senarathna 

Three members of Sri Lankan Peacekeeping troops deployed in Mali were killed, while three Corporals were injured, when their armoured vehicle came under an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack yesterday. 

Army Spokesman Brigadier Sumith Atapattu said the WMZ (Wheel armoured carrier) travelling in the general area of Douentza in Mali was carrying Sri Lankan Peacekeeping troops, when the remote-controlled IED attack occurred around 6.30 am, local Mali time.

 “The attack on the WMZ and the convoy, which was returning after a mission, killed one Sri Lankan Army Captain and another Sri Lankan Army trooper who were on board the WMZ. Reports reaching here further confirm that three more Sri Lankan soldiers have sustained injuries and were admitted to the nearby hospital,” he added. 

Brigadier Atapattu said 113 Sri Lankan Army members were at the scene when the attack occurred. 

“United Nation Peacekeeping Mission headquarters in Mali is conducting an investigation into the incident, and Sri Lanka Army is in touch with the authorities,” he added. 

According to Brigadier Atapattu, the unit was deployed to Mali in December 2017, and was nearing the end of their term. A 200 member unit of Sri Lankan Army was sent for a one-year term.

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was established by Security Council resolution 2100 of 25 April 2013, to support political processes in that country and carry out a number of security-related tasks.  The Mission was asked to support the transitional authorities of Mali in the stabilisation of the country, and implementation of the transitional roadmap.