Commonwealth Secretary General to visit Sri Lanka next month

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma will visit Sri Lanka next month to discuss arrangements for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Sri Lanka this year. Sharma is to visit the country on 10 February.

External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunathilaka Amunugama has said that Sharma will be in the country on a routine visit to discuss arrangements for the CHOGM. During his visit, Sharma is to meet External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and several senior Government officials.

Sharma’s visit to Sri Lanka would take place amidst efforts by Canada to push for the CHOGM to be withdrawn from Sri Lanka through the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG). The Sri Lankan Government is expected to raise the issue with Sharma during his visit to the country next month.

Sri Lanka will host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo from 15 to 17 November 2013.