President Maithripala Sirisena on the recommendations of the Defence Ministry and Army Commander has declared a general amnesty for absentees to either return to service or be rightfully discharged under three categories from April 22 to May 10.
The newly-devised general amnesty under the first phase is to begin on April 22 to facilitate the discharge of all army officers who were Absent Without Leave (AWOL) for more than 21 days, other ranks who are absent for more than six months by April 22 and those absentees who are willing to rejoin the army after an absence of more than six months.
Category No - 1:
Those long-term absentees who do not owe any money to the Army or are not implicated in any legal matter are eligible to receive a direct discharge, irrespective of paraphernalia (Q items), issued to the subject or any other legal matters, involved in civil courts.
Category No - 2 :
Those who have no legal obligations and are capable of settling their loans against remaining balance money in the Army Benevolent Fund, Suwa Sahana Fund and Compulsory Savings Fund or through the guarantors or relatives, can be discharged, irrespective of paraphernalia, issued to the subject or any other involvement in legal issues in civil courts.
Category No - 3 :
Under this category, those absentees without any legal issues or any loans that should be paid back to the Army or whose loans can be settled against their balances in the Army Benevolent Fund, Suwa Sahana Fund and Compulsory Savings Fund either from the guarantors or the relatives, are eligible to receive a discharge from the Army.
Category No - 4 :
Absentees who have been charged for indiscipline or accused of other malpractices or criminal acts could also receive a discharge in accordance with existing Army legal procedures and regulations.Likewise, all paraphernalia (‘Q’ items) issued to the absentees and any of their involvement in non-Army related civil court cases, would in any way not be considered under all four categories expecting to receive discharge from the Army as specified above.
Similarly, all those absent for more than six months from service but are still willing to rejoin, will be considered for reinstatement if requested so.
Under this new programme for delisting, absentees within this General Amnesty period are requested to directly reach their respective Regimental Headquarters either in person or by communication to receive their discharge from service within the specified period.
Those intending to use the facility should carry the Army Identity Card (if available), documents related to injuries sustained in terrorist attacks before such discharge is obtained.
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