The Commander of the Sri Lanka Army had ordered an investigation into a video depicting a group of female recruits being harassed by some female as well as male instructors, which has been uploaded to the video-sharing website YouTube.

The investigation which is being carried out by the Sri Lanka Army Corps of Military Police has so far revealed that the video in question is an authentic one, a statement issued by the army said today.

The incident depicted in the video had taken place in October 2012 at a camp in Anuradhapura where some female recruits were being trained.

According to a preliminary report the instructors have punished the recruits for an act in violation of military discipline. “However, the method adopted is not in accordance with standard procedures prescribed for such corrective punitive actions,” the statement said.

 It has been found that the individuals who carried out this excessive action had “overstepped their mandate” and “acted in their own volition”.

Being disciplined organizations the Armies all over the world have standing procedures when it comes to disciplining the soldiers especially during formative period of initial training. Such actions are designed as corrective measures and have to be authorized by appropriate authorities, the Sri Lanka Army said.

“ In this instance no such authorization had been obtained. Further, the punitive methods employed by the instructors were not in line with prescribed procedures.”

Considering these observations the Commander of the Army has ordered the authorities to follow up this case with strict disciplinary actions against all those who have violated military code of conduct.

He has further reiterated that there would be zero tolerance for conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline throughout the Army.