Sharma reviews CHOGM preparations in Colombo

Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma who is on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka to review preparations for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka in November this year, met with Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs, Karunatilake Amunugama and members of the Task Force assigned to organized the summit.

Sharma whose office confirmed yesterday that there was no change in the CHOGM venue, also visited hotels and venues at which summit events are to be held.

The Commonwealth Secretary General arrived in Colombo on Sunday (10). He is scheduled to hold talks with External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris today and will also meet with President Mahinda Rajapaksa before concluding his visit on Wednesday (13). Even as preparations get underway for the summit in Colombo, Canada has called for Sri Lanka to be included on the agenda of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group scheduled to meet in April, because of its poor human rights record and the recent impeachment of the Chief Justice.

There is no decision so far on whether Sri Lanka will be an agenda item on CMAG which has the power to censure, suspend and expel member states for a lack of adherence to Commonwealth values. Minister Peiris went to London last week to convince Secretary Sharma that Sri Lanka should not be included on the CMAG agenda.

The CHOGM brings the 54 heads of Government of the Commonwealth grouping together every two years. Member states hosting the summit are expected to demonstrate their commitment to upholding the values of the Commonwealth, including democracy, separation of powers, independence of the judiciary and respect for human rights.