Within just three weeks, more than 12,000 former soldiers who had deserted the Sri Lanka Army have been granted legal discharges as of May 11, under an amnesty declared by the Ministry of Defence.
This general amnesty, effective for one month from April 20 to May 20, 2024, offers deserters the chance to lawfully discharge from the Army in collaboration with their respective Regimental Centres.
Between April 20, 2024, and May 11, 2024, marking the conclusion of the initial three weeks of the amnesty period, a total of 11,985 Army personnel who were absent without leave since December 31, 2023, and earlier, have been temporarily discharged from their Regimental Centres.
Furthermore, among those granted legal discharge are 81 army deserters currently residing abroad and absent without leave, according to the Army.
