Remains of Mali mission soldier flown back

The remains of Lance Corporal M.G.L. Deshapriya of the Sri Lanka Army,  who passed away due to a cardiac arrest during the UN Peacekeeping mission in Mali was be brought to the country by Turkish flight TK732 yesterday.

He was attached to the 4th Combat Convoy Company (CCC) of the Sri Lanka Army and has been serving in the Peacekeeping troops of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) since August 2022.

He died on February 11 upon admission to the MINUSMA Level – 3 Hospital of the UN in Bamako, Military spokesman Brigadier Ravi Herath said. Lance Corporal Deshapriya (42) is a father of two and a resident of Vihara Medawachchiya, Anuradhapura. He is a non-commissioned officer of the Sri Lanka Army with 14 years in service. Peacekeeping troops of the MINUSMA formally presented a military salute and bid farewell to the remains of late Deshapriya in the presence of Ms Daniela Kroslak, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for United Nations MINUSMA, Deputy Chief of MINUSMA Operations and a gathering of MINUSMA officers, other ranks, including the Commanding Officer of the Sri Lankan CCC of the MINUSMA in Mali on Thursday (16).

He was to complete his service in Mali on August 17, this year, the spokesman further said.