(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –4299 members of the Tri-Forces, including 10 officers have surrendered within the general amnesty period, said the Ministry of Defence.
This includes 2974 members of the Army, 537 from the Navy and 788 of the Air Force.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces declared a week-long general amnesty period for Tri-Service absentees to coincide with the 72nd National Independence Day.
Tri-Service absentees will be given the option either to receive discharge or rejoin to continue their national service to the country. The amnesty period will be effective till tomorrow, the Army media unit said.
According to the communiqué, those Army personnel wishing to receive the legal discharge or the re-enlistment are requested to reach their respective Regimental Centres or Recruit Training Centres, if they had deserted while under training during the said period.
Instructions to this effect have already been conveyed to all formations by the Army Directorate of Personnel Administration (DPA) on a directive given by Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, acting Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army.
This general amnesty is offered only to Tri-Force absentees who remain absent without leave (AWOL) before September 30, 2019.
