Former Speaker and the Chairman of the National Movement for a Just Society, Karu Jayasuriya, has stated that merging the military with the civil service is only practiced in countries with dictatorships.
"Military service is as important as the civil service with regard to the traditions of democratic governance. What we need to understand is that military service is composed of different objectives and traditions than the civil service. But in every country that respects democracy, these two institutional systems aren't merged but functions independent of one another while maintaining an active, efficient and disciplined service. The military is not going to incorporate practices and procedures of the civil service and vice versa. If there are countries that have attempted such amalgamation, they are countries with dictatorships. The negative effects of such actions have left many bitter examples throughout history," the former Speaker said addressing a press conference in Colombo today (07).
Pointing out that many Sri Lankans are stranded abroad having lost their jobs and in dire straits due to the pandemic, he called on the government to take immediate measures to ensure their safe repatriation. He also questioned the double standards of the government where Ukrainian tourists are allowed to enter the country without being subjected to the same quarantine process that citizens have to.
"They are questioning as to why the migrant workers, who bring much needed foreign exchange into the country, are forced to follow a mandatory quarantine process while these Ukrainian tourists are given special treatment," Jayasuriya said.
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"The authorities in this country should at least direct their attention towards a sensitive appeal made by a Sri Lankan woman on social media. What does she say to the whole world? Some women are forced to engage in prostitution in order to find the money they need to return to their country. What a miserable situation they are faced with. What a painful message for us as Sri Lankans? Don't the patriotic authorities in this country see this? Are they deaf to such pleas? Is it our misfortune to hear such things? Is the country doomed?," Jayasuriya inquired.
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