CHOGM 2013 in Sri Lanka :

Understanding Commonwealth philosophy

by M.H.M.N. Bandara

I am certain that most news-hungry people in this country, especially the younger generation, are keen to gather whatever possible information on the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and its affiliated bodies in view of the forthcoming CHOGM scheduled to be held in November 2013. Hence I wish to describe briefly the significance of the role played by the Commonwealth and its affiliated bodies in the philosophy of the Commonwealth.

The forthcoming CHOGM is said to be the biggest such event to be held in Sri Lanka after the Non-Aligned Conference in 1976. Such statements cannot be challenged.

However, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) cannot be compared to the CHOGM. The NAM came into existence as a result of the then ongoing Cold War between the two world powers, the United States of America and the Soviet Union and the countries respectively aligned to the two world powers.

CHOGM Summit in Perth, Australia

The Non-Aligned Movement was not established as a formal organisation, but became the name to refer to the participants of the Conference of Heads of State or Head of Government of Non-Aligned Countries first held in 1961. Former Indian Prime Minister the late Sri Jawharalal Nehru played a prominent role in the NAM. The NAM has a political flavour and has no headquarters of its own.

The Commonwealth is not a political movement. It is an association of 54 independent countries, almost all of which were former British Colonies. The Commonwealth concept can be considered as more important to the member nations than the NAM.

The Commonwealth is an association of sovereign nations which support one another and work together towards international goals. It is also a family of peoples. With their common heritage in

language, culture, law, education and democratic traditions,among other things, Commonwealth countries are able to work together in an atmosphere of greater trust and understanding than what generally prevails among nations.

The Commonwealth is often described as a ‘family’ of nations and People. The sense of family is most apparent in the wide network of societies, institutions, associations, organisations, funds and charities which support the Commonwealth.

This network links people of different nations, cultures, faces and economic levels, enabling engineers of nurses from different societies to explore and learn from their different yet related experience.

The Commonwealth Secretariat or the main head-quarters is located in London while the various affiliated professional institutions are located in London as well as other major capitals of Commonwealth nations.

The following 83 affiliated organisations are functioning with the professional entities and corporative bodies to improve knowledge and capacity building process.

* Association of Commonwealth Archivists and Records Managers (ACARM) established in 1984 and located in London

* Association of Commonwealth Amnesty International section (ACAIS) established 2001, located in New Zealand

* Association of Commonwealth Examination and Accreditation Bodies (ACEAB) established in 1996 and located in Cambridge UK

* Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies (ACLALS) established in 1964 and located in Hyderabad, India

* Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) established in 1913 and located in London

* British Empire and Commonwealth Museum, Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) established in 1989 and located in London. Bristol UK.

* Commonwealth Association of Indigenous Peoples (CAIP) Established in 1999 and located in Queensland, Australia

* Commonwealth Association for Mental Handicap and Developmental Disabilities (CAMHADD) established in 1983 and located in Sheffield, UK

* Commonwealth Association of Museums, established in 1974 and Located in Calgary, Canada

* Commonwealth Association for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (CAPGAN) established in 1994 and located in Oxford, UK

* Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP) established in 1973 and located in London

* Commonwealth Association of Professional Centres, established in 1996 and located in New South Wales, Australia

* Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) established in 1994 and located in Toronto, Canada

* Commonwealth Association of Public Sector Lawyers, established in 1996 and located in New South Wales, Australia

* Commonwealth Association of Science, Technology and Mathematics Educators (CASTME) established in 1974 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy (CASLE) established in 1969 and located in Bristol, UK

* Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA) established in 1978 and located in London

* Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA) established in 1945 and located in London

* Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) established in 1997 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Centre for Electronic Governance (CCEG) established in 2000 and located in Ontario, Canada

* Commonwealth Consortium for Education (CCfE) established in 1997 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Council for Educational Administration and

Management (CCEAM) established in 1970 and located in Auckland, New Zealand

* Commonwealth Countries’ League (CCL) established in 1925 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Countries’ League Education Fund, established in 1967 and located in Kent, UK

* Commonwealth Dental Association (CDA) established in 1991 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Education Trust, established in 1883 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Engineers Council (CEC) established in 1946 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Forestry Association (CFA) established in 1921 and located in Oxfordshire, UK

* Commonwealth Forum for Project Management (CFPM) established in 1997 and located in Monmouth, UK

* Commonwealth Foundation established in 1966 and located in London, UK.

* Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) established in 1978 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Geographical Bureau (CGB) established in 1968 and Located in Rondebosch, South Africa

* Commonwealth Group of Family Planning Associations, established in 1952 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Hansard Editors Association, established in 1984 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Historians Society, established in 1989 and located in New Delhi, India

* Commonwealth Human Ecology Council (CHEC) established in 1969 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), established in 1987 and located in New Delhi, India

* Commonwealth Institute, established in 1888 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Jewish Council and Trust, established in 1982 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) established in 1978 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute (CJEI) established in 1998 and located in Nova Scotia, Canada

* Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) established in 1983 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth of Learning (COL) established in 1987 and located in Vancouver, Canada

* Commonwealth Legal Advisory Service (CLAS) established in 1962 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) established in 1971 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Library Association (COMLA) established in 1972 and located in Kingston, Jamaica

* Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) established in 1995 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association (CMJA) established in 1970 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Media Development Fund (CMDF) established in 1979 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Medical Association (CMA) established in 1962 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Medical Trust (Commit) established in 1995 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Network of Information Technology for Development (COMNET-IT) established in 1995 and located in Bajda, Malta

* Commonwealth Nurses Federation established in 1972 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Organization for Social Work (COSW) established in 1911 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) established in 1983 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Partnership for Technology Management (CPTM) established in 1995 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association (CPA) established in 1970 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU) established in 1999 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Press Union (CPU) established in 1950 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Relations Trust established in 1937 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) established in 1959 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO) established in 1967 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Universities Study Abroad Consortium (CUSAC) established in 1963 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Veterinary Association (CVA) established in 1967 and located in Bangalore, India

* Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) established in 1917 and located in London, UK

* Commonwealth Women's Network (CWN) established in 1991 and located in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

* Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council (CYEC) established in 1970 and located in London, UK

* Conference of Commonwealth Auditors-General, established in 1951 and located in Putrajaya, Malaysia

* Conference of Commonwealth Meteorologists (CCM) established in 2003 and located in London, UK

* Council for Education in the Commonwealth (CEC) established in 1959 and located in London, UK

* English-Speaking Union (ESU) established in 1918 and located in London, UK.

* Institute of Commonwealth Studies (ICS) established in 1949 and located in London, UK

* League for the Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers (LECT) established in 2007 and located in London, UK

* Organization of Commonwealth United Nations Associations (OCUNA) established in 1980 and located in London, UK

* The Round Table: Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs (CJIA) established in 1910 and located in London, UK

* Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth (RASC) established in 1957 and located in London, UK

* Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League (RCEL) established in 1921 and located in London, UK

* Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) established in 1968 and located in London, UK

* Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL) established in 1910 and located in London, UK

* Sight Savers International (RCSB) established in 1950 and located in London, UK

* So optimist International Commonwealth Group (SICG) established in 1998 and located in London, UK

* Sound Seekers (Commonwealth Society for the Deaf)) established in 1959 and located in London, UK

* Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship (VLCF) established in 1901 and located in London, UK

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) was founded in 1911 as the Empire Parliamentary Association. Evolving with the Commonwealth, the CPA adopted its present name in 1948. The Association is composed of branches formed in legislatures in Commonwealth countries, which subscribe to parliamentary democracy. Currently, the Association's parliamentary members of national, State, provincial and territorial parliaments stand at 164.

The Parliament of Sri Lanka has a branch of CPA, comprising all party representations. The CPA mission is to promote knowledge and understanding about parliamentary democracy with particular reference to Commonwealth countries, and further co-operation and consultation between Commonwealth parliaments. The CPA achieves its mission through the following activities: Conferences, seminars, workshops and training events, publications, providing information and Parliamentary visits.

The President of Sri Lankan Mahinda Rajapaksa officially inaugurated the 58th Parliamentary Conference (CPA) - Annual Conference - in Colombo on September 11, 2012. The Conference was held during the period September 7-15, 2012 with the participation of 800 Members of Parliaments including speakers representing 179 regions of 54 Commonwealth countries. The Sri Lankan Government had hosted the Annual CPA Conference in Colombo twice before, in 1974 and 1995.

Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies

The Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies (ACLALS) was established to promote and coordinate Commonwealth Literature Studies, organise seminars and workshops, arrange lectures by writers and scholars, publish a newsletter about activities in the field of Commonwealth literature and hold a conference triennially. The last conference took place in St. Lucia, West Indies from August 5-9.

The Sri Lankan Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies (SLACLALS) is headed by Prof. Ashley Halpe. The Sri Lanka Association for Commonwealth Literature and ACLALS were started in 1964 with a conference at the University of Leeds and was officially accredited to the Commonwealth in 2005.

The Sri Lanka branch of ACLALS, SLACLALS was created in the late 1970s under the guidance of Ashley Halpe who was Professor in English at the University of Ceylon at the time. The aims of SLACLALS are to encourage the study of and research into Commonwealth Literature and language with special reference to Sri Lanka and to support creative writing in English. SLACLALS had held several conferences and seminars over the years in Peradeniya, Colombo, Kandy and Sabaragamuwa.

The Association of Commonwealth Universities

The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)is governed by its member institutions through an elected council. As the ACU is a UK-registered charity, Council members also act as its trustees. The ACU Council comprises up to 23 members: 20 elected Council members, up to two co-opted Council members and, if the Honorary Treasurer is co-opted rather than elected, the Honorary Treasurer.

Commonwealth Association of Architects

The Commonwealth Association of Architects [CAA] is a membership organisation for professional bodies representing architects in Commonwealth countries. Formed in 1965 to promote co-operation for ‘the advancement of architecture in the Commonwealth’ and particularly to share and increase architectural knowledge, it currently has 34 members.

Commonwealth Broadcasting Association

The Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA) is a representative body for public service broadcasters throughout the Commonwealth, founded in 1945. A not-for-profit non-government organisation, the CBA is funded by subscriptions from 102 members and affiliates from 53 countries.

The stated goal of the CBA is to promote best practices in public service broadcasting and to foster freedom of expression. It also serves to provide support and assistance to its members through training, bursaries, consultancies, networking opportunities and materials for broadcast. Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and the Capital Maharaja Organization Limited are Sri Lankan members.

Commonwealth Business Council

The Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) is an institution of the Commonwealth family that aims to use the global network of the Commonwealth of Nations more effectively for the promotion of global trade and investment for shared prosperity. It was formed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in CHOGM 1997, in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Commonwealth Dental Association

The Sri Lankan Dental Association bears the membership of the Commonwealth Dental Association (CDA). The CDA represents over half a million dentists who practice in Commonwealth countries across the World.

The Association aims to improve dental and oral health in the Commonwealth. It aims to develop and promote strategies to improve oral health care; to encourage the training of appropriate personnel, to serve as a forum for the exchange of ideas, professional information and the emerging concept of oral health; to address problems of professional isolation in the non-industrialised Commonwealth countries and to stimulate continuing professional education.

CHOGM under Lankan Chairmanship 2013-2015

With the hosting of the CHOGM in Sri Lanka in November, the President of Sri Lanka will assume the role of its Chairmanship for the period 2013 to 2015 commencing in November. Therefore, the Government of Sri Lanka should strive to steer the Commonwealth programs clear of any foreseeable difficulties and or impediments. For that purpose, it is my belief that the Sri Lankan government should prepare a master plan for the implementation of Commonwealth programs during the next two years.

I. Commonwealth Association of Youth Parliamentarians

II. Commonwealth Association of Professional Youth Workers (for which a proposal has already been submitted to the CYPt by Brian Belton).

III. Commonwealth Institute of Gem and Jewellery.

The writer is Director (Middle East) of the Ministry of External Affairs.