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Air Force and Navy deny reports of moral resignations

25 Jul 2022

  • Says airman was guilty of disgraceful conduct
  • Navy says both officers were deserters
By Buddhika Samaraweera The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) have denied reports that an airman and two sailors have left the SLAF and the SLN service, respectively, in opposition to the attack by the security forces on the “RanilGoGama” peaceful protest site at the Galle Face Green in Colombo on 22 July. In a statement to the media, SLAF Headquarters Media Director Group Captain Dushantha Wijesinghe stated that the reports on social media that Airman Asanka Srimal had left the service of the SLAF due to his unwillingness to serve as a slave are incorrect, adding that the airman in question had resigned due to the expiry of the eight-year basic term he was originally engaged to serve, on 21 July. “This person (Srimal) was accused of misusing a cheque in an account maintained under the SLAF Administration Director during the former’s duties as an Accounts Assistant at Katukurunda Air Force Base. In addition, he was accused of obtaining money by submitting fake bills from four procurement agencies. He has been found guilty and punished, as those acts fall under disgraceful conduct, as applicable to the SLAF Act. Therefore, his resignation was due to non-extension of service, and not out of frustration against the SLAF,” the statement read. Wijesinghe also stated that a person who joins the SLAF can generally serve for a period of 22 years at their discretion, and at the end of the initial period for which the person was recruited, the extension of service would be decided based on the performance of the person concerned. Meanwhile, in response to the social media reports to the effect that two sailors of the SLN, Janith Rajakaruna and Malshan Prathapasinghe, had decided to step down from the SLN after seeing the attack carried out on the “RanilGoGama”, the SLN had denied such reports and stated that no sailor or SLN officer had resigned as reported on social media platforms. The SLN had also told the media that both Rajakaruna and Prathapasinghe were naval deserters who had been absent without official leave (AWOL) for the past few years.  The “RanilGoGama” protest site at the Galle Face Green, which previously demanded the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and is now demanding the resignation of newly appointed President Ranil Wickremesinghe, was attacked by the security forces including the Sri Lanka Police, the Army, the SLN, and the SLAF, in the early hours of 22 July. Several protestors, a few local and international journalists, and lawyers who were at the Galle Face Green at that time had been attacked by the security forces, a move that has seen much opposition from several local and international parties. Following the attack, it was reported on social media that at least three SLAF and SLN officers had left the service, as they were concerned over the incident of peaceful protestors being attacked.


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