In response to a wave of absent without leave (AWOL) cases, the Sri Lanka Army has taken decisive action, temporarily discharging nearly 10,000 personnel from their Regimental Centers during an ongoing general amnesty period.
The amnesty, announced for a month from April 20 to May 20, 2024, aimed to provide a window for AWOL personnel to rectify their status. As of the end of the first two weeks of the amnesty, spanning from April 20 to May 4, a staggering total of 9,735 army personnel, who had been absent without leave since December 31, 2023, and earlier, were temporarily relieved from their duties.
Additionally, in a bid to address overseas AWOL cases, arrangements have been made for 35 personnel currently abroad to be legally discharged from the Army during this amnesty period, the Sri Lanka Army reported.