INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The general amnesty period announced from 20 April to 20 May for members of the tri-forces who have been marked as Absent Without Official
Leave (AWOL) is not applicable for Commissioned Officers who are marked as AWOL, the Ministry of Defence clarified.In a press release
published today (19), the ministry said the one-month general amnesty is valid only for the tri-forces personnel of Other Ranks, who have
not reported for duty without leave on or before 31 December 2023.During the said period, those who report will be legally discharged from
their respective services.However, the personnel mentioned below have been excluded from the general amnesty, taking into account the
expenses incurred for the special training provided using public funds in the following sectors and the difficulties encountered in
maintaining the operations in those sectors by their discharge.Rates where General Amnesty does not apply in the Army1
Public Health Inspector
2
Laboratory Technician
6
Surgery Room Technician
9
Rectifier and Preservation
13
Occupational Therapist
14
Electrophoresis Artist
15
CarpentryRates where General Amnesty does not apply in the Navy1
Artificers in all categories
2
Professional Medical / Professional Dental SailorsRates where General Amnesty does not apply in the Air Force1
The personnel in the following rates under the Directorate of Aircraft Engineering who have not completed 12 years of service after
completing advanced vocational training courses,(a) Aircraft Airframe Technician
(b) Aircraft Engine Technician
(c) Aircraft
Electrical and Avionics Technician
(d) Aircraft Safety Equipment Assistant2
The following rates under the Directorate of Health Services(a) Certified Nurse
(b) Electromagnetic Draughtsman
(c)
Technician
(d) Pharmacist
(e) Medical Laboratory Technician
(f) Biomedical Technologist
(g) Air Force Medical
Inspector
(h) Radiologist3
Rates in Dental Service(a) Certified Nurse
(b) Radiologist
(c) Surgery Room Technology
(d) Dental Assistant
Specialties
(e) Dental Technician Specialties
(f) Dental Technician (I)
(g) Dental TherapistIn addition, the ministry noted
that the absentees who are currently abroad can also obtain discharge without reporting to their respective Regiments conforming to the
Those seeking discharge should not have any pending disciplinary actions taken against them apart from that of being AWOL.b
Should not have travelled abroad by illegal means or should not have fraudulently prepared passports and other documents and have not
This Amnesty does not apply to those who had gone AWOL and failed to return to the country after attending foreign courses funded by the
government or courses offered to Tri-Forces by foreign institutes and those who had proceeded on diplomatic missions or any other
requirements.Further, Other Rank personnel who are currently abroad seeking discharge can do so through a representative with a Power of
Attorney attested at the Embassy of Sri Lanka established in the concerned foreign state or attested before a qualified Attorney at
certified by the Embassy of Sri Lanka established in the respective foreign country or certified before a qualified Attorney at Law/Notary
Public or similar professional in the respective country to obtain discharge from service during this general amnesty period.
