The United Nations has asked the Sri Lankan government on Friday to immediately repatriate its 200-member unit for peace-keeping operations in Mali following a review of its human rights background.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Friday that Colonel Calana Amunopur's request to leave the troubled western African country was "based on information received recently."
A report in the Guardian newspaper in July quoted a confidential report alleging that the Sri Lankan commander in Mali, who was not named, committed alleged war crimes during the last days of Sri Lanka's 26-year civil war against Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009.
The report was prepared by the South Africa-based Truth and Justice Project and referred to other Sri Lankans involved in UN peacekeeping operations.
Sri Lanka's UN mission said the ambassador was not available to comment on the UN resolution.
Sri Lankan troops are also participating in other UN peacekeeping missions, including missions in Lebanon and southern Sudan.
