Tuesday, 15th April 2014
(COLOMBO, Xinhua)
The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday accused the Canadian government of using its voluntary funds to the Commonwealth Secretariat as a political tool based on the dictates of electoral compulsions.
Canada had earlier announced it had decided to suspend its voluntary contribution to the Commonwealth Secretariat and reallocate the funds for the next two years in protest over Sri Lanka's human rights issue.
The External Affairs Ministry of Sri Lanka said the relentless action pursued by Canada on Sri Lanka will only seek to undermine the delicate reconciliation process, as the bona fides of the basis of that government trajectory is questionable and not in tandem with the interests of the people of Sri Lanka.
"It is the government of Sri Lanka which is best placed to continue the evolution of a home grown solution for its people in accordance with a realistic time frame," an External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said that the action taken by Canada is at variance with the underlying spirit of the Commonwealth as a voluntary organization of sovereign nations, with diversity being its hallmark.
"Concern has been expressed amongst the wider Commonwealth that the countries which provide the majority of the finances seek to unduly influence the working of the organization. This action by Canada stands in evidence of such machinations," the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson said that Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird 's comment in justifying Canada's action is a castigation of the organization as a whole, and Sri Lanka believes that the wider Commonwealth stands in solidarity against such manipulations.
Editor: yan
See more at : http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-04/15/c_133264937.htm
