Army to de-list deserters in four stages

10 November 2011 04:55 pm Views - 3966

The Sri Lanka Army has taken four steps to de-list 55,000 out of 60,000 deserters in the country under a special programme implemented by Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya.

Military spokesman Brigadier Nihal Hapuarachchi said that there are around 60,000 deserters in the country. “Out of them 4,500 needed to be rehabilitated as they have to pay back the Army financially or materially,” he said.

Brigadier Hapuarachchi also said that another 450 deserters are wanted by the police for minor offences.

The last category consists of 25 hard core deserters wanted by the police for committing grave crimes. They will be arrested by the police or by the Military Police (MP). (Supun Dias)