The British Government said it would have the opportunity to further urge Sri Lanka to make concrete progress in areas of concern during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Sri Lanka.

“CHOGM will also be an opportunity for the British Government to further urge Sri Lanka to make concrete progress in areas of human rights, reconciliation and political settlement,” British High Commissioner John Rankin said during his ‘ask the high commissioner’ session when  answering a question as to why the British Government had decided to attend CHOGM instead of boycotting it.

Mr. Rankin said the decision to hold CHOGM in SL was not something new was decided two years ago at the previous heads of government meeting in Perth. Prime Minister David Cameron had earlier confirmed he would attend the meeting because of the importance Britain placed in the Commonwealth.

“It’s an organization of shared values of respect for democracy, development, human rights justice and the rule of law,” he said adding that the British Government had made it clear that it would expect Sri Lanka to demonstrate its commitment to these values.

“As Foreign Secretary Burt has made it clear that we will look to SL as we will expect any host to demonstrate its commitment to these values,” Mr. Rankin said.

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)