Commonwealth Secretary General satisfied with Sri Lanka’s progress:

CHOGM will focus on growth and development

by Manjula Fernando

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2013 scheduled to be held in November will focus on inclusive growth and development opportunities.

”Preparations for CHOGM 2013 are impressive and on track”, said Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma in a media statement concluding his visit to Sri Lanka from February 10 to 13.

He said, “We can expect the 2013 Heads of Government Meeting to focus on inclusive growth and development opportunities.” The Secretary General was in the country earlier to look into the preparations for the Heads’ meeting to be hosted by Sri Lanka in Hambantota which was decided at the CHOGM 2009, and later confirmed in 2011.

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) and a few other international organisations and Canada expressed displeasure and attempted to influence the Secretary General to get the venue shifted levelling war crime allegations against Sri Lanka.

There was speculation that the Secretary General’s visit would result in something favourable to their demands. However, Sharma made it clear that he was satisfied with Sri Lanka’s progress on his concerns during his previous visit. ”The Commonwealth agreed to pursue a partnership with Sri Lanka in various priority areas that were jointly identified during my last visit in September 2012.

There has been marked progress in a number of these areas in the past six months,” a media release issued by his Communications and Public Affairs Division Director Richard Uku stated.

The Commonwealth Secretary General has offered technical support to strengthen the effectiveness of the Elections Secretariat, adding that it welcomed the Government’s move to set up an Independent Elections Commission. During his stay Sharma met President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya, Chairman Human Rights Commission Justice Priyantha R.P. Perera, Resident High Commissioners in Colombo and political and civil society leaders.