UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya on Monday said that the military mentality is breeding in the country and the trappings of a dictatorship were quite evident.

“Although there was peace in the country military expenditure had increased. There are reports regarding the appointment of government agents as brigadiers, in addition to the appointment of school principals as colonels. There are reports that the designation of the Inspector General of Police is to be changed to Commissioner General of Police. This foreshadows a military government,” he said.

Addressing a press conference he said that the intimidatory acts of the government were increasing and the trappings of a dictatorship were quite evident.
The Opposition should unitedly stand up against any threat to the judiciary, Jayasuriya said.

He told journalists that the Opposition should safeguard the judiciary and thereby safeguard democracy.

“The government’s behavior in this situation is incredible,” said Mr. Jayasuriya referring to a report that the Chief Justice was to be impeached.

He said that, according to the article 107 of the Constitution, an impeachment motion could be brought against the Chief Justice only if malpractices had taken place in the judiciary or if the Chief Justice was suffering from any infirmity that kept him or her from performing the duties of the said post.

He said it was unfair to inflict pressure on the Chief Justice for acting according to her conscience.

“The pressure applied on the Chief Justice, by making various allegations against her husband, cannot be condoned,” he said.