- 3,000 new recruits this year
Approximately 25,000 soldiers have left the service of the Sri Lanka Army without having reported for duty in the past five years, The Sunday Morning learns.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Army Spokesman Major General Rasika Kumara said: “In the past five years, about 25,000 soldiers have left the service without reporting for duty.”
Maj. Gen. Kumara added that once a soldier was regarded as an absentee in this manner, they were either granted general amnesty or disciplined.
“Either they get caught or they report back voluntarily. After this, disciplinary action is taken against them and they then report to work. Some are also granted general amnesty, which allows them to leave following the settlement of any outstanding payments.”
In April, the Defence Ministry declared a month-long general amnesty period (20 April to 20 May), subject to certain conditions, for absentees in the triforces so that they could receive an official discharge from their respective services.
This, amidst increasing reports from Russia of former Sri Lankan soldiers who are now serving on the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, lured to battle by the promise of higher salaries.
According to Maj. Gen. Kumara, a soldier earned a basic salary of Rs. 29,540 which came up to about Rs. 54,000 with allowances. However, he said that they did not believe there was a trend of soldiers leaving the Army. He added that interviews were currently underway to recruit 3,000 new soldiers to the Army.
“Last year too we recruited 3,000 new soldiers, but in previous years, this number has been greater. There is a natural reduction in the Army and the Treasury has allocated expenses for only 3,000 recruits this year.”
He added that towards the end of the war in 2008, there had been as many as 10,000 new recruits every year. “There was approval for it then, but now there is no need for such large numbers.”
Last year, State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon said that the number of Army personnel would be trimmed by a third to 135,000 in 2024 and to 100,000 by 2030 with the aim of creating a ‘well-balanced’ defence force.