Colombo, May 21- More than 15,000 soldiers who had deserted the Sri Lanka Army have received legal discharges during the month-long amnesty period declared by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence.

The general amnesty was announced from April 20 to May 20, 2024, during which Army absentees were given the opportunity to legally discharge from the Army in coordination with their respective Regimental Centres.

By the end of the amnesty period, a total of 15,667 Army personnel who were absent without leave since December 31, 2023, and earlier, have been temporarily discharged from their Regimental Centres.

The Army also said that among those who received legal discharge, there are 373 army deserters currently abroad and absent without leave.