OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 56 (04-09-03)

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000611 SIPDIS OFFICIAL INFORMAL DEPARTMENT FOR SA/INS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CE MV AGMT SUBJECT: OFFICIAL INFORMAL NUMBER 56 (04-09-03) ¶1. The Ministry of Defense today officially indicated its intent to co-host, with the United States Army Pacific, the annual Peacekeeping Multi-Platoon Event (PKO-MPE) in 2004. The Army Commander, LTG Balagalle has directed his staff to investigate establishment of a peacekeeping school for the Army and sought approval through MOD to host this event as a way of showing Sri Lanka's serious intent to participate in peacekeeping operations in the future. The Army currently has four Military Observers serving on UNPKOs in the Near East and two officers attending the US-funded peacekeeping school in Bangladesh. The MPE was held in years past in Bangladesh and Nepal and is attended by platoons from South Asian nations, the United States and the United Nations. WILLS