By Namini Wijedasa Sri Lanka must demonstrate a commitment to Commonwealth values ahead of the 54-member group’s biennial summit in Hambantota in November, said Alistair Burt, Britain’s Minister with responsibility for Sri Lanka. Britain is yet to decide on attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) —whether the country will be represented and, [...]

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Britain yet to decide on CHOGM participation

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By Namini Wijedasa

Sri Lanka must demonstrate a commitment to Commonwealth values ahead of the 54-member group’s biennial summit in Hambantota in November, said Alistair Burt, Britain’s Minister with responsibility for Sri Lanka.

Britain is yet to decide on attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) —whether the country will be represented and, if so, what level of minister would be assigned. The Prime Minister usually heads the delegation to CHOGM. However, there is pressure on Britain to boycott the summit over alleged, un-investigated war crimes allegations and, most recently, the impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake.

“The Canadians have already expressed an opinion about it,” said Mr. Burt, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in an interview with the Sunday Times. “So it’s those sorts of considerations that will come up for consideration and determination.”

“I think the important thing is recognition within Sri Lanka of its own commitment to those Commonwealth values, and in demonstrating through what it’s doing, that those values are strong,” he elaborated, when asked what Sri Lanka must do before the CHOGM. “So no one from outside is going around with a checklist or anything like that.” “Sri Lanka will make those judgements as the months go on,” he said. “And we will all see how that looks as the months progress.”

On Friday, Mr. Burt delivered a speech at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies. Answering questions from the audience, he said he was also not aware whether the Queen would attend CHOGM, saying it was not the Government’s prerogative to decide.

Mr. Burt told the Sunday Times Britain was not satisfied with the implementation of the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. He stressed that accountability for alleged war crimes had “not slipped down the United Kingdom’s agenda”. 

Commenting on his visit to Jaffna, Mr. Burt acknowledged to the audience at the Kadirgamar Institute that significant advances had been made. But he urged the Government to return civil administration to the North. “The military are not as obvious as they were two years ago but their presence is very strong,” he said. “There’s no doubt that people there believe very little happens without the military knowing all about it and having influence upon it.”

“More political expression and greater civil administration with the military moving more into the background will seriously make a difference,” he said. 

Asked what the point of resolutions at the UN Human Rights Council was when transgressions continued to occur in Sri Lanka, Mr. Burt said, “The point of resolutions is, sovereign though all of us are, we have all committed ourselves to international obligations that protect all our citizens.” He added that Britain was concerned about the pace of reform and change in Sri Lanka.

Mr. Burt said Britain was being a “candid friend”. “There is something dreadful about the phrase a candid friend,” he admitted. “But a worse thing than being a candid friend is just not being candid at all because then I think you’re not a friend.”




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