Dec 30, Colombo: A lawyers' group in Sri Lanka, Lawyers for Democracy dismissed the government claims that the judiciary along with local and foreign elements was trying to destabilize the country and said it is only the government that is trying to destabilize the country.

Issuing a statement, the group has noted that it is the Executive, through selected members in the legislature that has taken a series of major steps including an unwarranted, politically motivated impeachment of the Chief Justice to undermine the democratic values of the country.

It has added that these actions have exposed Sri Lanka for further scrutiny by the international community, who are under international legal obligations to ensure that the member states follow those international obligations.

The Lawyers for Democracy has made this comment in response to a statement made by the Defence Secretary that some local and foreign elements are trying to destabilize the country through the judiciary.

The group has noted that the behavior of the executive and the state media have established that the government has destabilized Sri Lanka and its constitutional values.