Sri Lanka, Feb. 24 -- The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Sampath Thuyacontha, says he has issued an order for the immediate arrest of all deserters from the security forces.

Responding to a journalist's inquiry about reports that army soldiers with weapons training were involved in a significant number of recent crimes, the Defense Secretary highlighted the Ministry's concern over the issue.

He explained, "We have drawn attention to the recent incidents. Many military personnel have been arrested. As a solution to that, there is actually a social problem here. We have confirmed through investigation that military officers who have illegally deserted the military before completing their full service peri...