Canada calls for Sri Lanka boycott

The Canadian prime minister has called upon heads of state to consider Sri Lanka's human rights record before attending the Commonwealth leaders' summit (CHOGM) to be held in Colombo.

Answering a question by a journalist in Toronto, PM Stephen Harper said he has expressed his reservations on Sri Lanka hosting the 2013 summit.

"I intend to make clear to my fellow leaders at the Commonwealth that if we do not see progress in Sri Lanka in terms of human rights and some of the issues that you raised, I will not as Prime Minister be attending that Commonwealth summit," he said.

PM Harper's remark at a round table with a group of journalists who questioned Canada's stance on allegations of war crimes in Sri Lanka, is the first indication by any head of state to boycott the summit hosted by Sri Lanka.

Earlier, a group of countries including Canada, Australia and UK objected to Sri Lanka holding the 2013 summit due to allegations of serious human rights violations.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2011/09/110912_canada_commonwealth.shtml