Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (SLEME) troops of the Army handed over the SLEME-produced nine modernized Unibuffels, one recovery vehicle and three containers to the shippers for passage to the Combat Convoy Company (CCC) of the Sri Lankan UN Peace-Keepers serving in Mali.
Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army and Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak attended as the Chief Guest for the occasion after formal receipt of those vehicles and accessories at the Army HQ this morning (26) handed them back symbolically to Rahileen Borham, Line Manager of Ben Line Shipping Agencies (Pvt) Ltd for shipping arrangements.
The landmine-resistant vehicles and equipment, produced locally using the technical expertise of SLEME troops, save a large chunk of foreign exchange to the government and the Army as they have been produced using imported spares on par with international standards to match with UN specifications. The SLEME has been instrumental in producing those vehicles, identical to the South African ones for several years.
Presently, 243 Sri Lankan UN Peacekeepers, including 20 officers and 223 other ranks, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Nihal Gallage, together with 65 vehicles are serving the Mali Combat Squadron.
These vehicles and equipment were closely inspected by Major General W.A.S.S Wanasingha, Director General Overseas Operations on Thursday (25) at the Base workshop in Katubedda before they were handed over to the Commander of the Army today (26).
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