(Sri Lanka Brief 10 October 2025)
Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry and Police have intensified operations to apprehend over 54,000 members of the tri-forces—Army, Navy, and Air Force—who are currently absent without official leave (AWOL), raising serious concerns about discipline, national security, and the viability of the government’s 2030 military restructuring plan.
Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara informed Parliament on Wednesday (08) that 54,087 personnel are AWOL as of October 2025. This includes:
- Sri Lanka Army: 385 officers and 47,265 other ranks
- Sri Lanka Air Force: 46 officers and 3,396 other ranks
- Sri Lanka Navy: 87 officers and 3,108 other ranks
Additionally, 359 personnel are confirmed to be abroad without leave, including 232 Army officers, 93 Army other ranks, 19 Navy personnel, and 15 Air Force personnel .
Military Spokesman Brigadier Franklin Joseph stated that ongoing operations aim to arrest AWOL personnel, who will face disciplinary proceedings before being legally discharged. Those absent for less than a year may be reassigned or discharged, depending on their circumstances. He clarified that no general amnesty has been declared, but personnel wishing to resign may voluntarily surrender for discharge.
“We have warned those absent without leave to report to their regiments to be discharged, or we will arrest them and proceed with disciplinary action before discharge,” Brigadier Joseph said.
The mass desertions come at a time when Sri Lanka is pursuing a strategic “rightsizing” of its armed forces. As of 2025, the country maintains a total military strength of approximately 317,000 personnel, comprising:
- Active troops: 265,900
- Reserve troops: 5,500
- Paramilitary forces: 30,400
The government’s 2030 plan aims to reduce the Army to 100,000, the Navy to 40,000, and the Air Force to 18,000, shifting from a large counterinsurgency force to a more professional, technologically equipped military
Brigadier Joseph acknowledged that the high AWOL numbers pose a challenge but emphasized that the downsizing strategy already factors in annual attrition due to desertions. However, the scale of the current crisis—nearly one-sixth of the active force—has prompted urgent action.
Earlier this year, Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha ordered the immediate arrest of deserters following a surge in organized crime involving ex-military personnel, particularly those with weapons training. Thousands have been arrested in the first nine months of 2025 as part of these operations.
The situation underscores the delicate balance between enforcing discipline and managing a transition toward a leaner, more modern military. With Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean and its legacy of counterinsurgency warfare, the integrity of its armed forces remains central to national security and regional stability.