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Sri Lanka’s participation in a United Nations peacekeeping conference has drawn renewed scrutiny, as the country’s army commander — whose regiment was implicated in war crimes — attended the United Nations Troop Contributing Countries (UNTCC) Chiefs’ Conclave 2025 in New Delhi earlier this month.
The summit, hosted by the Indian Army from 14 to 16 October, brought together senior military officials from 32 troop-contributing nations to discuss the future of UN peacekeeping operations. Representing Sri Lanka was Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of the Sri Lankan Army.
According to the Sri Lankan army, Rodrigo previously served as the Commanding Officer of the 18th Field Regiment, Sri Lanka Artillery, which took part in military campaigns in Thoppigala and Mannar under the 57th Division - a unit accused of some of the worst atrocities committed during the final stages of the armed conflict.
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Human Rights Watch documented the 57th Division’s involvement in the indiscriminate shelling of civilians and hospitals in the Vanni during the final battles in 2009. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) also presented extensive evidence of war crimes by the division, including testimonies and photographs.
Despite these grave allegations, Rodrigo joined global counterparts in discussions about peace and security — a move that critics say underscores the United Nations’ continued failure to uphold accountability standards for Sri Lankan forces accused of human rights violations.
Sri Lanka’s military has faced years of allegations of war crimes, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings, yet remains a regular contributor to UN peacekeeping missions.
The hypocrisy has long drawn condemnation from rights groups. In 2007, 134 Sri Lankan peacekeepers were implicated in a child sex abuse ring in Haiti, accused of exchanging food and money for sex with children as young as twelve. While most were repatriated, none were prosecuted.
