COLOMBO, Sept. 14 -- Human rights advocates Yasmin Sooka and Frances Harrison have raised concerns over Sri Lanka's contribution to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in Haiti, questioning whether adequate human rights screening was carried out before the deployment of Sri Lankan personnel.

In an opinion article, published on PassBlue the two authors said the United Nations Security Council is due to decide on the renewal of the GSF mandate, which expires on September 30, while the United States and Panama are leading negotiations on the mandate.

Sri Lanka has contributed one of the larger contingents to the militarized operation, with 900 Army personnel and 189 Special Task Force personnel, according to Sri Lanka's Ministry of Defence. ...