Sri Lanka to host Commonwealth leaders' summit in 2009 [September 27 2008]

Sri Lanka will host the next Commonwealth Leaders' summit next year. The leaders of the Commonwealth Union, who met yesterday in New York, have decided to have their next meeting in Sri Lanka in 2009.

Leaders of the 53-nation commonwealth meet biennially to discuss a wide range of issues including democracy, good governance and global trade. According to the sources next year's meeting will focus on global terrorism. The commonwealth leaders met in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly had preparatory discussions on the Millennium Development Goals.

Global and local impact of rising food prices was also on the agenda today for discussions to explore ways to address the challenges of and opportunities for increasing food production.