COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY GENERAL TO VISIT SRI LANKA

January 29, 2013

The Commonwealth secretary general is to visit Sri Lanka next month in the aftermath of a U.S. decision to move a fresh resolution on the country at the upcoming UN sessions for failing to brush up human rights and reconciliation measures.

A statement by the External Affairs Ministry noted that Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma would be in the country to discuss arrangements being made by Sri Lanka to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November.

CHOGM is the highest decision making body of the organization. Sharma is to visit the country on Feb 10.

External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunathilaka Amunugama said that Sharma will be in the country on a routine visit and will meet External Affairs Minister 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Sharma’s visit to Sri Lanka would take place amidst efforts by Canada to push for the CHOGM to be withdrawn from Sri Lanka through the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG).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. The government has steadfastly denied taking any illegal means to impeach Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake who was removed from her post on Jan. 15.

Sharma earlier this month expressed concern the impeachment.

“The Commonwealth’s principal consideration is that the provisions of Sri Lanka’s constitution are upheld with regards to the removal of judges, respecting the independence of the judiciary,” Sharma was quoted as saying in a statement released by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Meanwhile the United States announced on Monday that it is moving ahead with a second resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN sessions in March, which is likely to call for more work from the government on human rights and reconciliation issues? (Xinhua)