The Military Police (MP) has arrested nearly 11,000 deserters who did not report for duty and failed to appear during amnesty periods, Military Spokesman Brigadier Nihal Hapuarachchi said.

The arrests were made from November 2010 to August 15, 2011. “Disciplinary action will be taken against them as they failed to report to their respective regiments,” he added.

“As they failed to take the opportunity to surrender, they have to be subsequently traced down and arrested by the Military Police,” he said.

Those who have deserted the Army for more than one year will be sent to a rehabilitation process and then recruited back to the service.

Those who want to leave the service will be released after a strict rehabilitation. On the instructions of the Defence Ministry, the Military Police of the Sri Lanka Army launched this countrywide operation.

Brigadier Hapuarachchi said that there are between 60,000 to 70,000 deserters in the country. Amnesty periods are granted from time to time to pave way for them to retire from service officially.

To obtain another job in the society this clearance is very important for them if not the military police will be able to arrest them. (Supun Dias)