Full Text of the Speech:- Secretary General of the Commonwealth Chairman of the Commonwealth Business Council Honourable Ministers Dear friends, At the outset, let me welcome you all to this opening ceremony of the 2013 Commonwealth Business Forum. We are delighted to have you in our peaceful country, and to showcase the ever growing opportunities […]
Contrary to reports that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will call up Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to explain why he could not attend the Commonwealth summit, the two leaders have not spoken on the phone since New Delhi firmed up its decision, it is reliably learnt. […]
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said Monday he will attend a Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka despite his Indian counterpart pulling out amid pressure for a boycott over alleged war crimes by Colombo. Key said his presence at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) this week did not imply support for the Sri […]
“You are unique in that you repre sent the voices, aspirations, visions, and ambitions of your fellow citizens in each of the countries represented here. You also portray their present and their future. It is in this backdrop, we take pride in hosting this Peoples Forum associated with CHOGM, held in Asia, for the first […]
The 9th Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF9) was inaugurated by President Mahinda Rajapakse. today (Nov. 10) at the Magampura Ruhunu International Convention Centre (MRICC) in Hambantota. Speaking at the Forum President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the theme of the Forum, “Inclusive Development – Stronger Together” is very appropriate as it signifies that united, we could achieve […]
(Reuters) – Sri Lanka on Friday denied refusing visas to a delegation from an international human rights group ahead of a Commonwealth summit in Colombo, saying its permission had not been sought for the overseas visitors. Sri Lanka hosts the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting next week and human rights groups have urged a […]
A final call on Manmohan Singh’s trip to Colombo to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will be taken by the Prime Minister himself, the Ministry of External Affairs, and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, even as opinion was divided in the Union Cabinet and the Congress Core Group. […]
(Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Thursday he will demand that Sri Lanka investigates allegations of war crimes and human rights abuses when he visits the country for a meeting of Commonwealth leaders next week. Cameron said he wanted to “shine the international spotlight on the lack of progress” in the Indian […]