Deceased Sergeant's family gets compensation

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

The United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations provided US $ 74,395.93 (Rs 8 million) as compensation to family members of Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps Staff Sergeant H M T Priyawansa who died during peacekeeping mission in Haiti in 2011.

Staff Sergeant Priyawansa attached to the 13th Contingent of the Sri Lanka Army UN Peace Keeping Operations Mission to Haiti with Gemunu Regiment Peacekeeping troops, was assigned duties in Haiti on February 1, 2011.

The cheque was officially presented by Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to the deceased soldier's wife R M T T Rathnayake at the ministry yesterday.

On a request by Rathnayake, the compensation will be equally distributed and deposited to the accounts of their two children, Navodya Priyawansa and Kaweesha Priyawansa.