Not the right time for military training : Dilan

COLOMBO (News1st): Government lawmaker Dilan Perera has said it is not the right time to subject individuals above the age of 18 for military training - a proposal by the public security minister that has stirred controversy. "We cannot say that the government shares the same opinion. The government has to hold discussions and make a decision," Perera, a Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna parliamentarian told reporters. Imtiaz Bakeer Markar, a parliamentarian in the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, questioned the scientific reason behind putting forth such a proposal. "Have discussions been held with the Ministry of Education? There are numerous programs in our country to teach discipline to students above the age of 18 in school," Markar insisted. Eranga Gunasekara, a member of the Socialist Youth Association, observed that military personnel, both retired and in active service, have been appointed to state bodies. "We would like to ask the minister whether those institutions have been disciplined," Gunasekara remarked.