British PM Cameron will attend CHOGM in Sri Lanka
British Prime Minister Rt Hon David Cameron, and Foreign
Secretary Rt Hon William Hague, will be attending the Commonwealth Heads of
Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka, Dr Chris Nonis, Sri Lankan High
Commissioner to the UK confirmed.
The Commonwealth biennial meeting in November this year, will be
preceded by the Commonwealth People's Forum, the Commonwealth Youth Forum, and
the Commonwealth Business Forum, and usually attracts several thousand
delegates, and global media coverage. It will provide the opportunity for the 54
Heads to meet to discuss matters of global and Commonwealth concern, and agree
collective policies and initiatives.
Although there had been intensive lobbying in the past year by
anti-Sri Lanka activist groups with collateral agendas, in particular in London,
which is home to the Commonwealth Secretariat, they had not succeeded in their
attempts to pressurize Commonwealth Nations to shift the venue, nor to
pressurise the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group to place Sri Lanka on its
formal agenda.
In that context, Dr Nonis reiterated the strong support that Sri
Lanka enjoyed amongst the Commonwealth countries, represented by the Board of
Governors of the Commonwealth Secretariat, comprising the 54 London-based
Commonwealth High Commissioners, during their regular deliberations at
Marlborough House, in the spirit of unity and friendship. He also recalled the
unwavering support of all except one Country, at recent meetings, which
necessitates a depth and breadth of understanding that Commonwealth countries
are at different stages of development, with a commonality of values and
aspirations, as well as challenges and constraints, and it is precisely this
rich and diverse tapestry that makes up the modern Commonwealth.
Dr Chris Nonis also spoke earlier this week at the BBC's RADIO 4
"Today" Programme in London, the BBC's flagship news and current affairs
programme, which provides insight, analysis and expert debate as key policy
makers are challenged on the latest news stories throughout the UK. He
articulated the comprehensive reconciliation, reintegration, and reconstruction
programme underway in Sri Lanka in the post-conflict era, under the leadership
of HE President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Questioned by BBC interviewers, he also
pointed out the imperative for the international community to visit Sri Lanka
and make an objective and impartial analysis of the reality of contemporary Sri
Lanka, and extended an invitation to all those countries to experience Sri
Lanka, the Host Nation of CHOGM 2013.
Courtesy : Department of Government Information
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