Sri Lanka has dispatched nearly 500 military personnel to Haiti to bolster the Gang Supression Force (GSF). The two contingents left Sri Lanka within three days, with the latest contingent departing on October 16, 2026.
According to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence, the contingent that left on October 16 consists of 218 soldiers, including 173 members of the Sri Lankan Army and 45 from the Special Task Force. This follows the departure of a previous contingent of 280 military personnel on October 14, which included 21 officers and 259 enlisted soldiers.
With the addition of these troops, the total Sri Lankan military presence in Haiti will reach 798 personnel, out of a planned deployment of 1,120. A contingent of 300 Sri Lankan soldiers had previously arrived in Haiti on July 8, 2026.
Additionally, a 50-member advance contingent from Bangladesh is also transiting through Sri Lanka as part of the same mission. This group arrived on October 15 and was provided with meals, accommodation, and transportation by the Sri Lankan army, reflecting a collaborative effort among nations.
