The first segment of 12th Force Protection Company (FPC) for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) left the island early this morning (18) in order to assume their roles and tasks in the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Lebanon, Army media unit said.
The first advance party of the FPC contingent comprising 2 Officers and 14 Other Rankers, out of a total of 150, belonging to 13 Regiments of the Army, left for Lebanon to serve a period of one year in the UNIFIL mission.
The 12th Sri Lanka’s Force Protection Unit (SLFPU) comprising 10 officers and 140 other rankers, drawn from several Regiments, will replace the currently serving 11th contingent.
The Sri Lankan contingent held its customary Passing Out at the Sinha Regimental Headquarters in Ambepussa on 07th February.
The second contingent will leave for Lebanon on Monday (19) and the final batch is expected to leave the island on 6 March 2018.
The Sri Lankan FPU in Lebanon is responsible for security and VIP duties at the UNIFIL Force Headquarters in Naquoura and controls all the access routes to the UNIFIL Headquarters and is under command to the Force Headquarters Support Unit (FHQSU) which is directly under the Force Commander.
Since 2010, Sri Lanka Army has sent 11 contingents to serve in Lebanon at the request of the UNIFIL. The first one left in 2010.
