In a letter to the Editor of the newspaper, the Ambassador- stated that the ‘When allegations of improper conduct by Sri Lankan troops were brought to the attention of the Sri Lankan authorities by the United Nations, an entire unit was immediately withdrawn by the national security authorities’.

‘A thorough investigation was conducted subsequently and action was taken against a number of service personnel for breaching the rules of conduct of the Organization’.
The United Nations has highlighted the manner in which Sri Lanka dealt with the allegations as a model for other troop contributors.

Following is the letter:

Dear Sir,

I refer to the article in the International Section of the New York Times “Peacekeepers’ Sex Scandals Linger; On Screen and Off” by Neil MacFarquhar, and the reference to 100 troops from Sri Lanka being sent home from Haiti in 2007 because of “widespread accusations of sex with minors”. This is highly misleading.

When allegations of improper conduct by Sri Lankan troops were brought to the attention of the Sri Lankan authorities by the United Nations, an entire unit was immediately withdrawn by the national security authorities. A thorough investigation was conducted subsequently and action was taken against a number of service personnel for breaching the rules of conduct of the Organization. The United Nations has highlighted the manner in which Sri Lanka dealt with the allegations as a model for other troop contributors.

I would be grateful if this clarification is given appropriate publicity in your journal which we faithfully read every morning.