The total number of tri-forces absentees marked as Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) and have obtained the legal discharge from the service during the ongoing general amnesty has exceeded 11,000, tri-forces Media Spokespersons confirmed yesterday.
The Defence Ministry announced general amnesty for other rank members of the tri-forces, who have gone AWOL before December 31, 2024 is effective from April 20 to May 20, 2024.
During the first two-week period of the general amnesty ended on Saturday (4), a total of 9,735 Army personnel, 938 Navy personnel and 676 Air Force personnel have obtained their legal discharge.
Another few personnel marked as AWOL and currently overseas also have planned to obtain their discharge from the service during this amnesty period, tri-forces sources further confirmed. This general amnesty is not applicable to commissioned officers of the tri-forces, the Defence Ministry has announced.
Lahiru Fernando
