Hon. (Major General (Rtd.)) Aruna Jayasekera - Deputy Minister of Defence

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Defence, I provide the following answer.

¶ 02 (a) (i) As at present, the numbers reported absent without leave (AWOL) without obtaining leave are: - Sri Lanka Army: Officers 385; Other Ranks 47,265 - Sri Lanka Navy: Officers 87; Other Ranks 3,108 - Sri Lanka Air Force: Officers 46; Other Ranks 3,396

¶ 03 Of these AWOL personnel, those specifically identified as having gone abroad are: - Army: Officers 232; Other Ranks 93 - Navy: Officers 64; Other Ranks 19 - Air Force: Officers 15; Other Ranks 5

¶ 04 Given the large AWOL totals, precise numbers abroad cannot be definitively stated.

¶ 05 (ii) Accurate data on their going abroad and related remittances are not available; therefore a precise answer cannot be provided.

¶ 06 (iii) Since they have gone abroad while AWOL and return to Sri Lanka without having been lawfully discharged, they are taken into military custody in accordance with service laws and regulations.

¶ 07 (iv) Actions: - Army: Apprehended Army officers are proceeded against via court-martial and discharged. For Other Ranks: those from Corporal downwards AWOL for more than 12 months, and from Sergeant upwards AWOL for more than six months, are discharged from service. - Navy: After summary trials, personnel are discharged. - Air Force: Those willing to continue service are retained based on State Intelligence and Police clearance. Those unwilling to serve are discharged under “Service no longer required.”

¶ 08 (v) Many such personnel have sureties, bank loans, and institutional dues. Discharge requires coordination with relevant institutions under due process to ensure liabilities are settled and to avoid setting a wrong precedent. Therefore, while processes are in place, time minimization is constrained by these formalities.

¶ 09 (b) Not applicable.

¶ 10 A detailed written answer has been tabled.