Sri Lanka Army personnel below rank of Major to surrender passports

• Decision due to administrative purposes

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya
All Sri Lanka Army personnel below the rank of Major have been instructed to hand over their passports to their respective regiments.   
Army Spokesman Brigadier Waruna Gamage said that this decision was due to administrative purposes and aims to address delays in obtaining passports for overseas training and official matters.   

Army Spokesman Brigadier Waruna Gamage said that this decision was due to administrative purposes and aims to address delays in obtaining passports for overseas training and official matters.   
He said that since many Army personnel are away from home, there can be delays in acquiring passports for official purposes.   
The passports can be retrieved from the regiments at any time for personal use, the spokesman said.   
When asked if this decision was to prevent unauthorized absences, the spokesman clarified that it was solely for administrative reasons.