• Better civilian jobs and foreign employment opportunities attract personnel
• Long service hours and family commitments among reasons for departures
• Military deserters face disciplinary action, possible dismissal from service

A trend of military personnel leaving the service has emerged within the Armed Forces, with excessive workloads, long service hours and better employment opportunities outside the military among the reasons for the departures, Deputy Defence Minister Major General (Retired) Aruna Jayasekara said.

He was responding to a question raised by Government Parliamentarian Major General (Retd.) G D Sooriyabandara yesterday (3).

Jayasekara identified several factors contributing to the trend, including opportunities for foreign employment and education, better jobs in the civilian sector and the preference among personnel to pursue careers that better match their professional qualifications and skills. Higher earning opportunities in the private sector were another factor, he said.

He also cited heavy workloads and the requirement to serve for extended periods as reasons prompting some personnel to leave. Other factors included increasing family-related financial commitments, postings in difficult locations that required personnel to live away from their families and the desire to prioritise marriage and family life.

Difficulties in adapting to military life and dissatisfaction with disciplinary requirements and service regulations were also contributing factors, he said.

Jayasekara also explained the legal position concerning military personnel who leave their respective services without authorisation, particularly those who travel overseas after abandoning their duties.

He said Army officers who leave the service and travel abroad without authorisation are treated as deserters.

"Under Sri Lanka's criminal and military laws, desertion or an attempt to desert the Army constitutes a military and criminal offence. They are dealt with under the provisions applicable to personnel who remain absent without leave. Decisions on retaining them in service or removing them are taken in accordance with those provisions,” he said.

Regarding the Navy, he said the Navy Act provided for dismissal from service, either with or without disgrace, as a punishment. Personnel dismissed under these provisions would not be eligible to rejoin the Navy, he added.

In the case of the Air Force, decisions are made based on the nature of the punishment imposed following a trial and the powers vested in the Air Force Commander under the Air Force Act.