Addressing the high desertion rate among Sri Lankan Army EOD, CBRNE and HDM specialist:

Abstract

This research explores the higher rate of desertion/early retirement among EOD, HDM, and CBRNE qualified personnel in the Sri Lankan Army and its impact on national security. The study aims to identify key factors driving criminal motivation, focusing on psychological state, social state, economic state and compensation and benefits. A mixed-method approach was used, combining quantitative data from surveys with qualitative insights from interviews. The findings reveal that psychological state, economic state and adequacy of compensation and benefits, significantly contribute to criminal motivation. The findings revealed that “psychological state’ and ‘economic hardship’ are major drivers of criminal motivation, as financial stress pushes skilled personal to prioritize personal survival over professional duties. Inadequacy of compensation and benefits was identified as a critical factor in reducing criminal motivation, reinforcing the importance of improving working conditions, recognition, and compensation. In contrast, social state’ along had a minimal impact on criminal motivation. Qualitative analysis further highlighted the role of each factor, and practical knowledge of interviewers. Furthermore, the study suggests that targeted interventions, such as enhanced financial support systems, improved job satisfaction through better potentials are necessary to address absenteeism effectively. These findings contribute to the broader understanding of criminal motive in military contexts and offer practical recommendations for policymakers and military leaders to mitigate threat, improve morale, and ensure effective utilization of human resource during economic challenges.