THERE are 20,597 deserters in the Army and we are pleased to inform that they have all now reported back for discharge, Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, Military Spokesmen said.
The de-listing process of deserters in the Armed Forces has almost reached completion, the spokesman for the Armed Forces told the Daily Mirror yesterday.
Army Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said yesterday that the de-listing process which began in May was completed on September 30. Navy acting spokesman, Captain Athula Senaratne said yesterday that the application for the de-listing process in the Navy began from August 10 to September 10.
However, he said they would extend this period in order to allow the deserters who did not de-list again. “There are about 6,000 Navy deserters in the island out of whom only 3,000 have surrendered. We want to give others too this opportunity as well,” he said.
Captain Senaratne said that the Navy holds a deserters’ list and each deserter would be removed once they got involved in the de-listing process. “Then they will be officially removed from the Navy,” he said.
Air Force Spokesman, Janaka Nanayakkara told the Daily Mirror that there were about 3,000 deserters in the Air Force and the de-listing process which began in August was still underway.
There are a number of people who have raised loans and the like. We have to ensure that the process is carried out without any complications,” he said.
(Courtesy: Daily Mirror)
