Nearly 10,000 soldiers who deserted the Sri Lanka Army have received legal discharge as of May 4 during an amnesty period declared by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence.
The Sri Lanka Army, under the Ministry of Defence’s directive, has announced a General Amnesty from April 20, allowing all Army absentees to receive an official discharge from their service.
The general amnesty is in effect for one month, from April 20 to May 20, 2024. During this period, Army absentees have been given the opportunity to legally discharge from the Army in coordination with their respective Regimental Centers.
As of the end of the first two weeks of this amnesty period, between April 20, 2024, and May 4, 2024, a total of 9,735 Army personnel who were absent without leave since December 31, 2023, and earlier have been temporarily discharged from their Regimental Centers.
The Army said that 35 army deserters currently abroad are also among those who have received legal discharge.