‘Lawyers for Democracy’ views with deep concern the appointment of Navy Commander as the new chairman of Ceylon Shipping Corporation.  We see this as another step in the process of militarization of civil society says, the Convener of the Lawyers for Democracy, Lal Wijenayake.

Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage

Issuing a statement the LfD says; “This appointment comes in the wake of the appointment of serving officers of the security forces and retired officers of the security forces as Provincial Governors, Heads of Departments, Heads of Corporations, and other government institutions as well as the handing over of the management of several institutions from international stadiums to tourist hotels, where the government has a stake to the army, navy or the air force.  This makes the security forces directly involved in business ventures.  We have seen the serious consequences of such militarization of civil society and the involvement of security forces in business ventures in Pakistan and Egypt in particular.  The obstacles to establishing democratic government and strengthening civilian rule in these two countries has been mainly due to the control that the security establishment has in governance and economic activities.

We condemn this move to appoint the Commander of the Navy as the Chairman of the Shipping Corporation and we call upon the civil society to oppose the process of militarization of civil society.”