4,500 tri forces deserters arrested

Sri Lankan authorities are continuing to arrest tri forces personnel who are considered as Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL).

According to the Military Spokesman, Brigadier Roshan Seneviratne, so far nearly four thousand five hundred deserters have been arrested.

Eight (08) officers and four thousand four hundred and ten (4410) other rank personnel have been arrested till yesterday (27th July 2017) since the end of the General Amnesty on midnight 31st December 2016.

Accordingly, eight (08) officers and three thousand five hundred and twenty nine (3529) other rank personnel of the Army, eight hundred and five (805) Navy and seventy six (76) Air Force deserters have been taken into custody.

Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police (SLCMP) together with the Police conduct island-wide operations to apprehend deserters and disciplinary action will be taken against them thereafter.

The Defence Ministry had announced two General Amnesty periods last year providing opportunities for tri forces deserters to seek legal discharge. During the last General Amnesty period which ended on midnight 31st December (2016), thirty four officers (34) and eight thousand eight hundred forty three (8843) other rank personnel produced themselves to their respective services seeking legal discharge.