Canada firm on C’wealth boycott threat

27 February 2013 06:23 am - 30 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has held firm on his threat to boycott the Commonwealth summit in Colombo later this year, rejecting calls to make nice with Sri Lanka.

"I have indicated that unless changes occur in Sri Lanka I will not be attending the Commonwealth summit there," Harper told parliament on Tuesday.

"I am concerned with further developments, since I made that statement, which is taking that country in a worse direction."

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma has urged Canada to drop its threat to boycott November's meeting in Sri Lanka over allegations of war crimes committed there during the civil war.

Instead, Canada stepped up pressure, reporting Sri Lanka to the Commonwealth for allegedly violating the organisation's democratic values by ignoring two court rulings and sacking Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake in January.
Bandaranayake had given rulings which were thought unfavourable to President Mahinda Rajapakse's government, which is also accused of failing to probe the war crimes allegations.

Harper has warned that he may refuse to attend the Commonwealth's next summit unless Sri Lanka addresses allegations of atrocities during the closing battles of the war against separatist Tamil rebels in 2009.

Sri Lanka has denied allegations from international rights groups that government troops killed up to 40,000 civilians while battling Tamil rebels.(AAP)

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Comments - 30

modaya Wednesday, 27 February 2013 08:23 AM

Are you saying us to bow down and lick their feet even after these harassment???

tjeyar Wednesday, 27 February 2013 12:00 AM

V strongly oppose his decision.He might b white ltte.he s devolping his country by ltte money. via DM Android App

Yuri Wednesday, 27 February 2013 11:57 AM

Do you know about Canadian Politican. X Prime Minister Brain Mulroney resign when the pupularity fall to 17% as the news papers repoted. no one asked to resign! can anyone do it here! not even in hell

Chamini Wednesday, 27 February 2013 11:49 AM

Nishantha..your coments shows how small brain you have...

Buffaloa Citizen Wednesday, 27 February 2013 11:08 AM

Hats off to you, you are a typical yakko Sri Lankan for not knowing SH.

sach Wednesday, 27 February 2013 09:19 AM

Actually both US and canada are wrong here. What they should do is pressurise the SL gov to go for a power devolution not war crimes.

Saskia Wednesday, 27 February 2013 09:09 AM

Well said. They say that they love and respect others but, in practice they don't. This has become quite clear when MR openly said that the minorities will not get any powers at all.

Sareek Wednesday, 27 February 2013 08:57 AM

Uncle you donot come here. I want to come to canda. Please send me a visa.

Ranil Wednesday, 27 February 2013 08:52 AM

Mr. Prime minister, the mountain did not come to mosses, neither will sri lanka

Jay Wednesday, 27 February 2013 08:53 AM

Next batch of asylum seekers are ready...You get more votes and can rule and loot canada in the coming years,while the diaspora produce more drug sellers and credit card scamsters.

Silas Wednesday, 27 February 2013 08:44 AM

Well...we ARE licking MR's feet after all the harrasments he's putting us through...

Yuri Wednesday, 27 February 2013 08:43 AM

Not only mahintha, even anyone comes, Singhala never want to love together, but they allways says

Yuri Wednesday, 27 February 2013 08:38 AM

Canada rank No 1 in the world as most respected Nation. with almost one million Tamils

podi sadhu Wednesday, 27 February 2013 08:31 AM

SRI LANKANS ARE A BUNCH OF FROGS LIVING IN SIDE A WELL
DOES NOT KNOW THE REAL WORLD

modaya Wednesday, 27 February 2013 08:25 AM

I think Canada should donate a small Island to LTTE sympathizers to establish their dreamland... The Elam... It will give permanent solution for the issue.

Reader Wednesday, 27 February 2013 06:24 AM

Canada is falling pray to diaspora votes...

Nishantha Wednesday, 27 February 2013 08:25 AM

Who is this man call Stephen Harper,,, I absolutely have no idea about him... In fact we had over one million tourists last year, so what is the big issue if one individual does not come???

Calistus Jayatilleke Wednesday, 27 February 2013 08:19 AM

If the majority of countries in the Commonwealth countries boycott and if the venue is shifted, Sri Lanka would stand to gain a lot by way of avoiding massive waste of money and unnecessary credit and glory to the current rulers who have flouted all known principles and policies that the Commonwealth stands for.

Naviman Wednesday, 27 February 2013 08:21 AM

No problem you can go ahead with your boycott.But please allow more boat people in to your country without boycotting them. The diaspora need more people to block your motorways in case you change your mind and decide to attend CHOGM.

Gabo Singho Wednesday, 27 February 2013 08:10 AM

#Reader: Very true the diaspora has ingratiated themselves into Canada's politicians. These politicians a beholden to them for their staying in power. Its a well know FACT.

azath Wednesday, 27 February 2013 08:08 AM

If not commonwealth, it is going to family wealth conference in Hambantota

Gabo Singho Wednesday, 27 February 2013 08:07 AM

#Ranjit: Its not a question of making enemies, this is all political. The LTTE diaspora in Canada has made inroads into the body politic in Canada. Anyone could see that. We cannot be made slaves of Canada. If he does not want to come, so be it. Its not the end of the world.

Selva Wednesday, 27 February 2013 08:00 AM

Yeah, you care when you need aid, money and arms

True Sri Lankan Wednesday, 27 February 2013 12:00 AM

Does it realy matter if Canada does not join? When bombs were going up in LK they did not come to stop it but helped to provide terrorist a safe haven. Now all the noice about war crimes. What about the thousands of inocent people distroyed by LTTE? Why is this always one sided? via DM Android App

MR Wednesday, 27 February 2013 06:49 AM

who cares you dont come we will keep in Sri Lanka, and it will happen

mandla ndlovu Wednesday, 27 February 2013 06:46 AM

hey i love this

Nimal Wednesday, 27 February 2013 06:39 AM

Good move

Ranjit Wednesday, 27 February 2013 06:38 AM

We Sri Lankans and our future generations will have to suffer for the foolish acts of the rulers. We should not make west our enemies, however unreasonable they are.

kandykolla Wednesday, 27 February 2013 06:37 AM

May be lot of presurre from the Scarborough area led by Ms Sitsabaiesan !!

Trevin Mendis Wednesday, 27 February 2013 06:34 AM

Sri Lankan govt wil not put to the right path in such ways. They will not establish the democracy in the country, thus maintain the military rule

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Canada firm on C’wealth boycott threat

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