Friday, 11 October 2013 03:46
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Cabinet Spokesman says Government will review its diplomatic relationship
Dismisses Ottawa’s funding threat to C’wealth as ‘symbolic’
Says CHOGM won’t be affected by funding threat
By Dharisha Bastians
Sri Lanka will summon the Canadian envoy in Colombo to discuss its diplomatic relations in light of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s accusations against the Government in his announcement of Canada’s boycott of the Commonwealth this week.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the weekly press briefing that the Government may summon the Canadian Envoy or diplomatic representatives in Colombo for discussions on bilateral relations and the allegations levelled on Sri Lanka’s human rights record.
“It is clear, Canada is isolated in their decision, though they began the campaign against Sri Lanka hoping other member states would join in the boycott,” Minister Rambukwella told reporters. While there may have been isolated incidents in the country following a 30-year conflict, the Government had not been behind these acts, the Minister reiterated. Interested parties were engaged in an ongoing campaign to discredit Sri Lanka, Minister Rambukwella explained.
The Government Minister dismissed Canada’s funding threat against the Commonwealth, saying it was purely “symbolic”.
But following Ottawa’s threat, the UK has also pulled funding to Commonwealth due to concerns about its leadership the British media reported yesterday.
Minister Rambukwella said he did not anticipate the funding threats would become an issue for Sri Lanka as hosts of CHOGM.
