2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
The 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM; /ˈtʃɒɡəm/) was the 23rd Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations. It was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 15 to 17 November 2013.[3] Commonwealth leaders agreed on Sri Lanka as the 2013 host for the meeting when they met in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, in 2009. Sri Lanka, which was originally slated to host the summit in 2011, was accused of committing atrocities during the Sri Lankan civil war and the summit was instead held in Perth, Australia; Colombo was given the 2013 summit instead.[4][5] The leaders of Canada, Mauritius, and India boycotted the summit, citing alleged human rights violations by Sri Lanka against its Tamil minority.[6][7] Protests were also banned during the summit.[8] President Mahinda Rajapaksa summarised the summit's events as: "Issues covered in the communique include development, political values, global threats, challenges and Commonwealth cooperation."[9] However, the meeting was overshadowed by controversy over Sri Lanka's human rights record and the alleged war crimes during the final stages of the civil war.[10][11][12] This was the first time in 40 years that the Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II, was not present at the CHOGM.[13][14]
| 23rd Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting CHOGM 2013 | |
|---|---|
| Host country | Sri Lanka |
| Dates | 15–17 November 2013 |
| Venue(s) | Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Waters Edge |
| Cities | Colombo |
| Participants | 50[1] |
| Heads of Government/State | 27[2] |
| Chair | Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| Follows | 2011 |
| Precedes | 2015 |
| Key points | |
Colombo Declaration on Sustainable, Inclusive and Equitable Development Trackle High Debt & Poverty Boycott over Human rights in Sri Lanka | |
Background edit
At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2007 in Kampala, Uganda, Commonwealth leaders agreed on Sri Lanka as the host for the 2011 meeting.[15] However, during the final stages of the Sri Lankan civil war the government was accused of committing war crimes, and hence at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2009 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago it was decided that the 2011 meeting would be held in Perth, Australia whilst Sri Lanka would host the 2013 meeting.[16][17][18][19] At the 2011 meeting Commonwealth leaders reaffirmed that the 2013 meeting would be held in Sri Lanka.[20]
In May 2013, Buckingham Palace announced that Queen Elizabeth II would not be attending the meeting.[21][22] Charles, Prince of Wales, would be attending in the 87-year-old monarch's place, as she has curtailed her overseas visits due to age.[23][24]
Organisation edit
Sri Lankan Airlines bore the logo of the summit.[25]
Venues edit
Amongst the venues, an unnamed branch of the Sri Lankan government, said that the main summit venue, in the capital, Colombo - Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall - is an "outright gift from the Government and People of the People's Republic of China."[25][26][27] The opening ceremony was held at Colombo's Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre. The leaders' retreat was at Waters Edge in the Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte suburb of the capital. Other venues included the International Convention Centre, Hambantota; Chaya Tranz, Hikkaduwa; and the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel, Colombo.[25][28]
Summit edit
Official programme and agenda edit
The official programme outline a week of activities including three days of meetings for heads of government.[29]
Discussions edit
British Prime Minister David Cameron reiterated calls for an independent investigation into the alleged war crimes.[30][31] "There needs to be proper inquiries into what happened at the end of the war, there needs to be proper human rights, democracy for the Tamil minority in that country" Cameron stated.[32][33] He stated that if this investigation wasn't completed by March 2014 he would press for an independent international inquiry.[34][35][36] This followed a visit to Jaffna Peninsula, the first visit to northern Sri Lanka by a foreign leader.[37][38] Cameron was mobbed by demonstrators, mostly women, seeking his assistance in tracing missing relatives.[39][40] Cameron also said that he would have "tough conversations" with Rajapaksa.[10] In response to Cameron's pledge to push for a UN-led investigation into the alleged war crimes unless Sri Lanka credibly addressed human rights concerns by March 2014, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapakse said: "Why should we have an international inquiry? We will object to it ... Definitely, we are not going to allow it."[41] The Defence Secretary and another sibling of the President, Gotabhaya Rajapakse in a response, stated that "there were other countries such as Russia, China and Cuba at the UNHRC who would not support it." The defence minister also went on record to proclaim that the British Premier was 'siding' with the 'LTTE rump', and was mistakenly thinking that Sri Lanka was still a British colony.[42]
In response to questions about the Government's use of torture, Prime Minister Tony Abbott told reporters that while his government "deplores the use of torture we accept that sometimes in difficult circumstances difficult things happen".[43]
The chair of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group[who?] briefed heads of government on the electoral crisis in the Maldives. The CMAG had, earlier in November, expressed its "deep disappointment" that the presidential election process had not concluded prior to the expiration of the president's term in office on 11 November 2013.[44] The CHOGM was expected to discuss how to deal with the situation on 16 November.[45]
Canada and Australia blocked a proposal to establish a climate change fund, the Commonwealth Climate Change Risk Fund, named the Capital Green Fund, which would have assisted poorer countries dealing with the impact of global warming.[46] The hereditary issue of leading the Commonwealth, however, did not appear to have been discussed formally and was not mentioned in the meeting's final communique.[1][47]
In a speech given at a dinner held in honour of the government leaders, Prince Charles spoke in what The Daily Telegraph described as "a pitch for himself as the Queen's eventual successor as head of the organisation." He spoke of his personal attachment to the Commonwealth: "I feel very much part of the family. It's in my blood, I'm afraid. I have been brought up in the family and I think that what we are renewing here are those family ties, those family associations and family values. I feel proud and enormously privileged to be part of it all."[48]
Outcomes edit
Malta was chosen as the host of CHOGM 2015.[1][49][50] CHOGM 2018 will be held in Vanuatu and CHOGM 2020 will be held in Malaysia.[1][51]
The final communique was issued as the Colombo Declaration on Sustainable, Inclusive and Equitable Development and agreed that eradicating poverty and climate change are major challenges for all countries.[1][52] Other agreements were made on the necessity for steps to tackle high debt and poverty. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the meetings were characterised by "fruitful discussions...I am happy with the outcome we have reached at this CHOGM."[53][54] However, he also warned against an ultimatum to address war crimes allegation by March 2014 saying he would not be pushed "into a corner."[2][55][56] Other discussions included the "core values" of democracy, rule of law, human rights, freedom of expression and religion, women's rights, ridding corruption, transparency, natural resource management and taxation. It also mentioned the issues of small states, including Small Island Developing States; other global issues such as non-state terrorism, the Arms Trade Treaty and arms control, sexual violence in conflict, education, health and general social development. Specifically, the issues of Fiji, Cyprus, Belize, Guyana and The Gambia were discussed. Wider issues of building partnership and networks within the Commonwealth were also discussed.[1]
Controversy edit
Boycott edit
There were significant calls from many bodies not to host the summit in Sri Lanka and to boycott the event, because of the country's alleged poor human rights record and reported atrocities against the Tamil population in the country.[57][58][59]
Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper stated that he would not attend the meeting as a protest at Sri Lanka's alleged failure to improve its human rights record, as he said he would at the previous CHOGM; the Canadian Prime Minister had previously walked out of the 2011 summit during its last day when Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa was invited to speak.[60] It was announced that Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Foreign Affairs Deepak Obhrai would represent Canada.[61] Harper further elaborated that Canada might cease its contributions to the funding of the Commonwealth should no action be taken by the organisation against Sri Lanka;[62][63][64] he cited the impeachment of the country's chief justice and the execution and imprisonment of journalists and political opponents of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.[61] At the time, Senator Hugh Segal, Canada's envoy to the Commonwealth, claimed that the Commonwealth Secretariat was acting "as a 'shill'" for Sri Lanka's government.[61]
In October 2013, the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu passed a unanimous resolution demanding that the Indian government boycott the meeting and also sought the temporary suspension of Sri Lanka from the Commonwealth until Sri Lanka takes steps to grant what they call similar rights to Tamils as those enjoyed by Sinhalese.[57][65][66][67] Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced his decision not to participate in the event due to pressure from the regional Tamil party regarding Sri Lanka's alleged human rights record. External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, who represented India at the summit in the prime minister's place, said: "The position we have taken is, it is not a boycott."[68]
The Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navin Ramgoolam, stated that he would not attend the meeting as a protest at Sri Lanka's alleged failure to improve its human rights record[69][70] and was thus withdrawing as the host of CHOGM 2015 as protocol would have required him to attend the summit in order to personally invite other member states. "I have made it perfectly clear that human rights are more important than hosting a Commonwealth summit, regardless of its importance."[71]
In the United Kingdom, the Foreign Affairs Select Committee called on that country's prime minister, David Cameron, not to attend the meeting in light of Sri Lanka's human rights record. Cameron also expressed concern about human rights issues in the country.[26] However, Cameron later affirmed that he would attend.[72] The Channel 4 documentary No Fire Zone, which presented evidence of alleged war crimes by the Sri Lanka Armed Forces, had resulted in increased calls for a boycott.[citation needed]
In Malaysia, Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister of the state of Penang, and the Secretary General of the Democratic Action Party called on the Malaysian government to boycott the summit as a protest against alleged human violations committed by the island republic against ethnic Tamils there.[59] However, the Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak rejected[citation needed] that and came to Colombo.
The New Zealand Green Party also placed similar calls for a boycott and for the replacement of Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Commonwealth Chairperson-in-office for the next two years.[73][74] However New Zealand Prime minister attended the meeting.
Similar views were floated by South African anti-Apartheid campaigner and Nobel laureate archbishop Desmond Tutu who suggested that the boycott of the CHOGM could be "one of the screws that the world has to apply to help the Tamil population."[75][76] but South African President Jacob Zuma attended the meeting.
Restrictions on media edit
Prior to the start of the meeting the Sri Lankan government had given assurances that foreign media would be given free and full access.[77]
A team from Channel 4 News, which had broadcast several video clips of Sri Lankan troops allegedly committing atrocities during the civil war, arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport on 11 November 2013 and were met by a group of pro-government demonstrators, despite a ban on demonstrations during CHOGM.[78][79] The Channel 4 News claimed that they were followed by state intelligence operatives throughout their visit to Sri Lanka.[80][81] On 13 November 2013 the Channel 4 News team tried to get to Kilinochchi in northern Sri Lanka by train but a group of pro-government demonstrators blocked the railway line near Anuradhapura.[82][83][84] Channel 4 News claimed that they had been followed on to the train by state intelligence operatives.[85][86] The team were forced into a van by police and driven back to Colombo.[87][88] At 6.30am on 17 November 2013 six immigration officials visited the Channel 4 News crew at their hotel and warned them against violating the conditions laid down in their visas.[89] Channel 4 News left Sri Lanka later on 17 November 2013, earlier than planned, blaming intimidation and surveillance by Sri Lankan security forces.[87][90][91]
A BBC News crew trying to film President Rajapaksa at a CHOGM event on 14 November 2013 were physically restrained by security officials.[92] An Agence France-Presse trying to work in Mullaitivu District on 18 November 2013 were prevented from doing so by the military.[93][94]
Restrictions on protests edit
In October 2013 it was reported that the government was planning to ban all protests, marches and other demonstrations for three weeks in November, coinciding with CHOGM.[95][96] The government denied the reports.[97] However, on 14 November 2013 the police obtained a court order preventing any protests during CHOGM.[98][99]
A group of Tamils trying to travel to Colombo on 13 November 2013 to protest about disappeared relatives were prevented from doing so by the Sri Lankan military.[100][101]
Restrictions on travel edit
The Civil Air Services Authority suspended all FitsAir flights to Jaffna Airport between 10 and 18 November 2013, allegedly to restrict foreign access to the north of the country.[102][103]
Participants edit
Of the 53 Commonwealth members, only 27 heads of government/state (nine presidents, 16 prime ministers, one sultan and one governor general) attended the meeting, the lowest in decades.[1][80] 22 other members sent other delegates such as foreign ministers, vice-presidents, deputy prime ministers and high commissioners.[80] Three members - Grenada, Kiribati and Maldives - did not attend and Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth.[104] The participants were:[105][106]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g "CHOGM 2013 Communiqué" (PDF). CHOGM 2013. 17 November 2013.
- ^ a b "Commonwealth puts on united front after summit rifts". Bangkok Post. 17 November 2013.
- ^ "Commonwealth announces dates for 2013 Heads of Government meeting". Commonwealth Secretariat. 7 December 2012.
- ^ Webster, Philip (27 November 2009). "Gordon Brown will not back Sri Lanka's bid to host Commonwealth summit". The Times. London.
- ^ Chase, Steven (27 November 2009). "Ottawa opposes Sri Lanka bid to host next Commonwealth summit". The Globe and Mail. Toronto.
- ^ "Mauritius pulls out of CHOGM". The Sydney Morning Herald. Agence France-Presse. 13 November 2013.
- ^ "Mauritius pulls out of hosting 2015 CHOGM: PM". The New Indian Express. Press Trust of India. 16 November 2013.
- ^ "Colombo summit overshadowed by rights row". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
- ^ "War crimes dominate commonwealth summit".
- ^ a b "Colombo summit overshadowed by rights row". Al Jazeera. 15 November 2013.
- ^ "Sri Lanka summit overshadowed by human rights record". ITV News. 16 November 2013.
- ^ "CHOGM 2013: Commonwealth leaders sign communiqué on poverty reduction and trade as talks close". ABC News (Australia). 17 November 2013.
- ^ Cavill, Amanda (12 November 2013). "Controversy stalks Sri Lanka's CHOGM". SBS World News.
- ^ "Perfidious Albion cannot change its spots". TamilNet. 5 November 2013.
- ^ "CHOGM ends in Kampala". Commonwealth Secretariat. 25 November 2007. Archived from the original on 18 November 2013.
- ^ Watt, Nicholas (29 November 2009). "Commonwealth vetoes Sri Lanka bid to hold 2011 gathering". The Guardian.
- ^ "Australia to host 2011 Commonwealth meeting". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australian Associated Press. 29 November 2009.
- ^ Chase, Steven (27 November 2009). "Ottawa opposes Sri Lanka bid to host next Commonwealth summit". The Globe and Mail. Toronto.
- ^ Webster, Philip (27 November 2009). "Gordon Brown will not back Sri Lanka's bid to host Commonwealth summit". The Times. London.
- ^ "Commonwealth leaders release CHOGM 2011 Communiqué". Commonwealth Secretariat. 30 October 2011. Archived from the original on 18 November 2013.
- ^ "Queen to miss Commonwealth meeting". BBC News. 7 May 2013.
- ^ "Queen to miss Commonwealth meeting in Sri Lanka". Channel 4 News. 7 May 2013.
- ^ Davison, Janet (8 May 2013). "Prince Charles gets higher Commonwealth role as Queen stays home". CBC News.
- ^ Mayer, Catherine (7 May 2013). "The Queen's Era Is Drawing to an End as Prince Charles Assumes New Royal Duties". Time.
- ^ a b c Category: Chogm 2013. . News.lk. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Shanker, V. Prem (11 November 2013). "CHOGM: Indian PM's absence to benefit China?". Al Jazeera.
- ^ Senanayake, Maheen (12 May 2013). "The BMICH Four Decades on". The Island (Sri Lanka).
- ^ . CHOGM 2013. Archived from the original on 16 November 2013.
- ^ (PDF). CHOGM 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
- ^ Jivanda, Tomas (16 November 2013). "Sri Lanka dismisses David Cameron's call for independent human rights inquiry". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022.
- ^ Mason, Rowena (17 November 2013). "Sri Lanka defiant after Cameron calls for war crimes investigation". The Observer.
- ^ Woodcock, Andrew (15 November 2013). "Sri Lanka: Cameron calls for war crimes inquiry". Scotland on Sunday.
- ^ Shihar Aneez; Frank Jack Daniel (15 November 2013). . Euronews. Reuters. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013.
- ^ "Cameron calls for war crimes inquiry in Sri Lanka". BBC News. 16 November 2013.
- ^ "Britain gives Sri Lanka deadline on war crimes probe". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 16 November 2013.
- ^ "David Cameron puts Sri Lanka on notice over war crime allegations". ABC News (Australia). Agence France-Presse. 17 November 2013.
- ^ Robinson, Nick (15 November 2013). "Cameron in Northern Sri Lanka". BBC News.
- ^ "Relatives of missing Tamils plead for PM to act". ITV News. 16 November 2013.
- ^ Doherty, Ben (16 November 2013). "Tamil protesters mob British Prime Minister in Jaffna". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ Mason, Rowena (15 November 2013). "David Cameron's car surrounded by Sri Lankan protesters". The Guardian.
- ^ "Sri Lanka says it will block UN rights probe - Central & South Asia". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
- ^ . Colombo Gazette. 18 November 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
- ^ "Abbott's torture comment sparks response".
- ^ "Statement on Maldives by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group". The Commonwealth. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
- ^ "Commonwealth decides to wait till Saturday on Maldives prez issue". First Post (India). 23 February 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
- ^ "Australia, Canada block Commonwealth climate fund". The Australian. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
- ^ "Tony Abbott rejects Commonwealth climate change risk fund". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ Raynor, Daily Telegraph, Gordon (16 November 2013). "Prince Charles stakes claim for family job at the Commonwealth top table". DNA India. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
- ^ "Malta to host CHOGM 2015". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)/The Times (Malta). 17 November 2013.
- ^ "Malta to host 2015 CHOGM summit". Colombo Gazette. 17 November 2013. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013.
- ^ "CHOGM headed to Malta". Sky News Australia. 17 November 2013.
- ^ "Colombo Declaration on Sustainable, Inclusive and Equitable Development". Commonwealth of Nations. 17 November 2013.
- ^ "CHOGM 2013: Commonwealth leaders sign communiqué on poverty reduction and trade as talks close". ABC News (Australia). 17 November 2013.
- ^ "Commonwealth puts on united front". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)/Bangkok Post. 17 November 2013.
- ^ "Commonwealth shows united front after summit rifts". Taipei Times. Agence France-Presse. 17 November 2013.
- ^ "MR defies Cameron". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 17 November 2013.
- ^ a b "TN Assembly passes resolution demanding CHOGM boycott". The Times of India. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ . The Times of India. Archived from the original on 15 November 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
- ^ a b "Penang Chief Minister calls for boycott of CHOGM in Colombo". Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ Cheadle, Bruce (30 October 2011). "Commonwealth leaders agree to develop charter of values and little else". Toronto Star. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
- ^ a b c Clark, Campbell (7 October 2013). "Harper raises stakes by threatening to cut Commonwealth funding". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ Petrasek, David. "Canada Should Play the Royal Card Against Sri Lanka's Government". CIPSBlog. Centre for International Policy Studies, University of Ottawa. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ^ "Commonwealth Asks Canada to Drop Sri Lanka Boycott". October 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ^ The Canadian Press (7 October 2013). "Stephen Harper cancels Sri Lanka visit over human rights violations". Toronto Star. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
- ^ . The Times of India. 24 October 2013. Archived from the original on 27 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ . The Times of India. 24 October 2013. Archived from the original on 27 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ "India should stay away from CHOGM: Tamil Nadu assembly". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ . The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
- ^ "Mauritian PM to join Sri Lanka Commonwealth summit boycott". BBC News. 12 November 2013.
- ^ "Cameron set to antagonise Commonwealth summit hosts again". Yahoo News. 15 November 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ^ McElroy, Damien (3 May 2013). "David Cameron will defy boycott calls to attend Sri Lanka Commonwealth Summit". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
- ^ "18.10.13 NZ Green MP urges Foreign Minister to change CHOGM chair". TamilNet. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
- ^ Andrea Vance (5 November 2013). "Amnesty International protest at Beehive over Sri..." Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
- ^ "Reuters - Boycotting Commonwealth summit may help Sri Lankan Tamils - Tutu". Retrieved 9 November 2013.
- ^ Gheddo, Piero. "Desmond Tutu says no to Commonwealth meeting to stop violations in Sri Lanka". AsiaNews. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
- ^ . news.lk. 13 July 2013. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- ^ Bastians, Dharisha (12 November 2013). . Daily FT. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
- ^ Paranahewa, Ashan (11 November 2013). . Ceylon Today. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013.
- ^ a b c Wijedasa, Namini (17 November 2013). "CHOGM-SHOWGM: Highs and lows of Govt.'s magnum opus". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
- ^ . Channel 4 News. 15 November 2013. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013.
- ^ Shihar Aneez; Ranga Sirilal (13 November 2013). "British TV crew blocked from reaching Sri Lanka's former war zone". Reuters.
- ^ "Channel 4 crew blocked from reaching Sri Lanka's former war zone". RTÉ News. 13 November 2013.
- ^ "Protesters stop journalists from travelling in Sri Lanka". ITV News. 13 November 2013.
- ^ Cahal Milmo; Oliver Wright (13 November 2013). "Sri Lanka: Fear and fury as leaders fly in for Commonwealth conference". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022.
- ^ Miller, Jonathan (13 November 2013). "Channel 4 News blocked by mob in Sri Lanka". Channel 4 News.
- ^ a b de Pear, Ben (17 November 2013). "Sri Lanka, 'impossible journalism' and Channel 4 News". Channel 4 News.
- ^ Wickremasekara, Damith (17 November 2013). "Channel 4 TV crew agree to pay van charges". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
- ^ Farisz, Hafeel (18 November 2013). "Immigration officials warned C-4 crew prior to departure". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka).
- ^ . Hindustan Times. Agence France-Presse. 18 November 2013. Archived from the original on 18 November 2013.
- ^ "UK's Channel-4 team forced to pull out of Sri Lanka". Oneindia.in. 18 November 2013.
- ^ "BBC TV crew held back at Sri Lanka Commonwealth event". BBC News. 14 November 2013.
- ^ "Sri Lanka military to probe blocking of foreign media". The Sunday Times (Singapore). Agence France-Presse. 23 November 2013.
- ^ . Ceylon Today. Agence France-Presse. 23 November 2013. Archived from the original on 25 November 2013.
- ^ "Sri Lanka: Banning Commonwealth summit protests a blatant attempt to silence criticism". Amnesty International. 10 October 2013.
- ^ "SRI LANKA: The democracy is to be silenced and protest banned in the month of November for the CHOGM". Asian Human Rights Commission. 10 October 2013.
- ^ . The Nation (Sri Lanka). 11 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- ^ Edirisinghe, Dasun (15 November 2013). "Police obtain order restraining protests". The Island (Sri Lanka).
- ^ . Daily FT. 15 November 2013. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
- ^ "Tamils stopped en route to Colombo before Commonwealth summit". BBC News. 13 November 2013.
- ^ "Colombo cracks down on protesters". Arab News. Agence France-Presse. 14 November 2013.
- ^ Ariyawansha, Niranjala (13 November 2013). . Ceylon Today. Archived from the original on 16 November 2013.
- ^ "Colombo suspends flights to Jaffna ahead of CHOGM". TamilNet. 12 November 2013.
- ^ "CHOGM, Channel 4 and the SL Editors' Guild". Sunday Island (Sri Lanka). 17 November 2013.
- ^ "Commonwealth Countries Come Together in Sri Lanka for CHOGM 2013" (PDF). CHOGM 2013. 15 November 2013.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Jayasuriya, Ranga (17 November 2013). . Ceylon Today. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015.
- ^ "Sri Lanka accuses Canadian government of 'placating' Tamil Tigers as row over Commonwealth summit grows | National Post". News.nationalpost.com. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
External links edit
- Commonwealth Youth Forum 2013 25 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine