Transfers misinterpreted, says Army

COLOMBO: The Army Headquarters said yesterday that some reports on Army appointments are completely inaccurate and grossly misleading.

Many such reports mainly regarding military transfers have been exposed to misinterpretations as well as unnecessary complications causing embarrassment and wrong impressions among members of the Army, a news release issued by the Army Headquarters said.

“Military transfers do not happen arbitrarily except in inevitable circumstances on the discretion of the Army Headquarters after careful assessment.”

“More importantly, those transfers in the Army are done by the Military Secretariat in accordance with routine military procedures as stipulated in the Army provisions.

However, any officer/ soldier is entitled for voluntary retirement upon completion of the stipulated tenure of service in the Army.

The most recent case in point is Colonel Prasanna Silva, Brigade Commander of the Special Forces Brigade who has requested voluntary retirement which has also been misinterpreted or inadvertently reported.

Such media reports do more harm than good to the morale of the serving members of the Army,” the release added.