Sri Lanka Holds UN Talks on Proposed Gang Suppression Force Deployment to Haiti

COLOMBO (News 1st); A high-level Sri Lankan delegation led by Secretary of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), held a series of meetings with senior United Nations officials at the UN Headquarters in New York City on April 22, 2026, in connection with ongoing Memorandum of Understanding negotiations for the proposed deployment of a Gang Suppression Force (GSF) to Haiti.

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

During the visit, the Defence Secretary met with Atul Khare, Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support, and Michael Mulinge Kitivi, Director of the Uniformed Capabilities Support Division under the Office of Supply Chain Management of the Department of Operational Support. Representatives from United Nations human rights mechanisms were also present at the discussions.

Talks centred on the prospective deployment of Sri Lankan troops to Haiti under the proposed Gang Suppression Force, with particular focus on operational readiness, compliance with United Nations standards, and adherence to human rights requirements. A key area of deliberation was the importance of ensuring a robust and transparent human rights screening process for all personnel.

The Sri Lankan delegation informed UN officials that the Government of Sri Lanka is currently developing a comprehensive National Human Rights Vetting Mechanism applicable to all troops deploying for UN field missions, including the proposed deployment to Haiti.

The initiative was described as part of Sri Lanka’s continued commitment to upholding international standards and ensuring accountability in peace support operations.

It was also noted that Sri Lanka is working in close coordination with the UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka to develop and operationalize the vetting framework, with the aim of ensuring full alignment with United Nations guidelines and best practices.