Sri Lankan troops assigned for UN peacekeeping operations have been referred to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka for vetting, on the insistence of the UN's Department of Peackeeping Operations.
Although a batch of 49 troops have already left for Lebanon in February, the remaining 101 army personnel are awaiting clearance from HRCSL due to the change in procedure.
Advocacy groups have highlighted that Sri Lanka has sent army officials accused of human rights abuses and war crimes to peacekeeping operations in the past.
Sri Lankan troops and army officials also stand accused of abuse and sexual exploitation while stationed in Haiti during UN peacekeeping operations.