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Lanka slams Canada for Commonwealth boycott

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Press Trust of India Colombo
Last Updated : Oct 09 2013 | 10:21 PM IST
Sri Lanka today lashed out at Canada's decision to boycott next month's Commonwealth summit here, saying Ottawa stood "totally isolated" on the issue.
"Canada is totally isolated in this situation because we have the overwhelming support of all other countries and we are dismayed by the Canadian attitude," G L Peiris, Sri Lankan minister of external affairs said today.
He was responding to a query on Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's statement that he would stay away from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held here from November 15 to 17, on account of Sri Lanka's poor human rights accountability.
"It is wrong to use issues connected with domestic politics of a country," Peiris asserted.
He said Sri Lanka was encouraged by the response of other leading Commonwealth nations, Australia and Britain.
Prime Ministers David Cameron of Britain and Tony Abbott of Australia have both confirmed their participation at the 54-nation biennial summit.

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Harper said yesterday he would not attend the summit due to "incarceration of political leaders and journalists, harassment of minorities, reported disappearances and allegations of extra judicial killings."
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid during his visit here this week remained non-committal on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's participation in the summit saying a decision was yet to be made.
Khurshid however said he himself would take part as foreign minister.

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First Published: Oct 09 2013 | 10:21 PM IST

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