Claiming that Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird has confirmed his participation in the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo, Sri Lanka today expressed hope that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper would also confirm his participation at the CHOGM.

“About 85 per cent of the participants from 54 Commonwealths countries including Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird have confirmed their attendance at CHOGM. We hope the Canadian Premier will also confirm his participation once the other Commonwealth Leaders confirm their participation,” External Affairs Monitoring MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardane told media heads at Temple Trees.

He said the host country would only bear the expenses of the Heads of State, Foreign Ministers and Foreign Ministry Secretaries. “The expenses of the other delegates will have to borne by themselves or by their respective countries,” he said.

He said at least 6,500 hotel rooms would be required to accommodate the foreign delegates including foreign businessmen or women. “From this exercise we can earn seven to ten billion rupees,” Mr. Gunawardane said.

Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundare said the government has decided not to purchase any vehicles for Ministries, Corporations, the Central Bank and other State owned institutions for this year as we are hoping to release vehicles, that were imported for the use of CHOGM, once the meeting is over,” he said.