Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence has intensified efforts to apprehend tri-service personnel who failed to report for duty without legal discharge, following a directive issued by Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Sampath Thuyacontha on 22 February.

As of March 19, a total of 1,604 deserters have been arrested. Of these, 1,444 were detained through operations led by the Tri-Forces, while the police apprehended 160 individuals.

The arrests include 1,394 Army personnel, 138 Air Force members, and 72 Navy personnel, according to the Ministry of Defence.