Srilanka, Feb. 24 -- Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha has issued an order for the immediate arrest of deserters from the country's security forces.

This directive comes in response to a troubling increase in shooting incidents that have been reported in recent weeks.

Officials have indicated that the decision was prompted by a surge in violence linked to former members of the security forces who have abandoned their posts.

In response to growing concerns over former military personnel's involvement in criminal activities, Defence Secretary Thuyacontha revealed that many individuals connected to recent crimes had either unofficially left or been discharged from military service after receiving weapons training.

He assured that ...