UN Resident Coordinator for Sri Lanka meets Acting Minister of Defence
January 16, 2025Acting Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) held a meeting with the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Sri Lanka, Marc-André Franche on Wednesday (Jan 15). The discussion took place at the Acting Minister's office in Colombo.
The meeting served as a platform to exchange views on shared interests and explore potential areas for enhanced collaboration between the Government of Sri Lanka and the United Nations. The following salient points were highlighted during the discussion; The significance of political dialogue in increasing the number of UN peacekeepers and emphasizing the opportunities for the new government, exploring opportunities for deploying multi-skilled/ Special Operation Forces (SOF) in UN peacekeeping missions, and the importance of integrating relevant institutions, such as the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC), and National Building Research Organization (NBRO), to enhance Command and Control (C2) capabilities and review the existing disaster management system with expert guidance for ensuring effective and efficient emergency response.
Moreover, the Acting Minister of Defence highlighted the importance of the enduring partnership between Sri Lanka and the United Nations, emphasizing its value in fostering national growth and development.
