Authorities have begun taking legal action against tri forces deserters who have failed to obtain legal discharge during the General Amnesty that ended on 31 December, 2016, Military Spokesman Brigadier Rohan Seneviratne said.
Tri forces personnel who are considered as Away Without Official Leave (AWOL) were provided two opportunities during last year to seek legal discharge.
“The Police and the Department of Immigration and Emigration have commenced operations to take into custody tri forces deserters and so far one officer and 170 other rank personnel have been arrested during the period from 31st (December 2016) midnight till 17th January 2107.
Authorities will continue to take swift action to arrest deserters and disciplinary action will be taken against them thereafter. During the last amnesty period that was in effect from 01st to 31st December (2016) around nine thousand tri forces deserters including officers and other ranks produced themselves to their respective services seeking legal discharge,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement.
