Srilanka, Feb. 25 -- Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyakontha has issued orders yesterday to arrest all Armed Forces deserters immediately. The Defence Secretary making a statement to the media said that the directive to arrest all Tri-Forces soldiers who have not legally left the service has been issued in order to curb crime and criminal activities taking place in the country with the main objective being to expedite the process to curtail underworld activities.

"We have drawn our attention to the recent criminal activities that took place. Many military personnel have been arrested as a solution. There is actually a social problem here. We have confirmed through investigations that military officers who have ill...