The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) today criticised the proposal to provide military training to all Sri Lankans and said when the government fails, it attempts to rule the country by deploying the military. Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara earlier today said a proposal would be submitted to parliament to provide compulsory military training to all Sri Lankans aged above 18. Speaking at a news briefing the Opposition Leader’s Office, MP Manusha Nanayakkara said the government has already appointed former military personnel to ministries, as secretaries and to district secretariats. “When the government fails, it tries to rule the country by deploying the military. We see this move as an attempt to suppress protests and contain people’s opposition so that the government can run the country the way it wants,” he said. He said Minister Weerasekara has said the training would be provided to the people in order to give them leadership qualities. “We agree that all of us need leadership qualities and to be disciplined. However, the civilians need no training to get military leadership qualities. This move is an attempt to create a widespread mentality of militarization,” he said.