'No politics in hosting CHOGM'

by Ranil Wijayapala

Hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo is of national importance and there should be no politics in it.

If I decide to boycott the event it would be a serious injustice to the nation, Colombo Mayor A.J.M. Muzammil told the Sunday Observer.

In response to a question as to whether he would boycott CHOGM like the United National Party, he said despite media speculation about such a decision by the UNP to boycott the event as a member of the UNP he was not aware of such decision by his party to boycott CHOGM.

"I don't think that there is a final decision on that issue by the UNP.

I haven't heard of such a decision and cannot comment on it", he said.

"As the Mayor and first citizen of Colombo, if I say I am boycotting CHOGM I feel that I would be doing serious injustice to the nation. I won't do a thing like that. This is not my politics. I do politics with the UNP. This is an event of national importance for me", the Mayor said.

"Let my leader take his own decisions. My party and my leader had never asked me and never questioned me about what I am doing. This means he is hundred percent supportive of me", he said.