The Police and the Department of Immigration and Emigration have been instructed to take appropriate action against tri forces deserters and so far one officer and 170 other rank personnel have been arrested during the period from 31st (December 2016) midnight till  17thJanuary, said Brigadier Senaviratne. Authorities will continue to take swift action to arrest deserters and disciplinary action will be taken against them thereafter. The Defence Ministry had announced two General Amnesty periods last year for tri forces deserters to seek legal discharge and during the last amnesty period that was in effect from 01st to 31st December (2016) around nine thousand tri forces deserters including officers and other ranks produced themselves to their respective services seeking legal discharge.