COLOMBO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Secretary to the Ministry of Defense Sampath Thuyacontha announced on Monday that he has ordered the immediate arrest of all military deserters.

Speaking at a press conference in Colombo, Thuyacontha said the directive was issued several days ago and that the military police would lead the operation with support from other agencies.

He also stated that authorities will soon take action against active-duty military personnel involved in criminal activities.

According to Thuyacontha, there are reports linking deserters to several recent crimes, and those who leave the military before completing their full-service period have a high likelihood of engaging in organized crime.

Sri Lankan police said recently that they had identified 58 gangs involved in organized crime and approximately 1,400 of their associates.

Organized crime remains a significant issue in Sri Lanka, and the government has vowed to crack down on such activities. The government has also announced plans to recruit 10,000 police officers to tackle crimes, reduce traffic accidents, and improve public safety. Enditem

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