Sir Ronald Sanders, former senior Caribbean Ambassador and member of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group, has called for the suspension of Sri Lanka from the Commonwealth and called for an urgent change in venue for this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Extracts from his piece “Save the Commonwealth brand: Tell Sri Lanka “enough”” have been reproduced below. See his full piece here.

“It is time for the Commonwealth of Nations to suspend Sri Lanka from its councils.”

“In doing so, the Commonwealth would restore confidence in its 2.1 billion people that it is not a hypocritical association that claims to stand for values, including democracy, human rights and the rule of law but fails to act to discipline governments that violate these values.”

"The Sri Lanka government has now seriously and persistently violated the principles to which every Commonwealth country has declared itself to be committed, and, according to the Commonwealth’s rules this is ground for suspension from its councils as a first step.”

“Well-thinking people across the Commonwealth, and those who are concerned about the credibility of the 54-nation grouping, expect the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) to be convened swiftly to suspend Sri Lanka from the Council of the Commonwealth and to set an agenda and time table for the government to implement measures to restore respect for the rule of law.”

“Slapping the Commonwealth Secretary-General and other Commonwealth legal bodies in the face, President Rajapaska proceeded to dismiss the Chief Justice and to appoint his former Attorney-General to the post.”

"Sri Lanka is an even bigger problem for the Commonwealth because it is scheduled to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November.  No time can now be wasted in deciding to shift the venue to another Commonwealth country.”

“If Commonwealth Heads of Government turn-up in Sri Lanka, they would be sending an unacceptable signal to the world community that governments that violate human rights and the rule of law can do so without fear of censure.  If Heads go to Sri Lanka, the Commonwealth can discard its brand as a ‘values based association” and start looking for something else to justify its existence.  But, whoever remains in it, it would cease to be respected by the people of its own countries and the international community.”

“That would be a sad loss for the 32 small states that are a significant number of the 54-nation Commonwealth.  They need a vibrant, respected Commonwealth as an advocate and interlocutor on their behalf in the international community.  A straw organisation existing on the margins of global regard can do absolutely nothing for them.”

“In this connection, the government of Canada should be complemented for trying for over a year to restrain the government of Sri Lanka from its excesses and to hold it to account for human rights abuses arising from a war with the Tamil Tigers that ended in 2009.   The Sri Lanka government has refused to allow an independent inquiry into the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians during the conflict between government forces and the Tamil Tigers as well as a worsening human rights situation.”

“Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, has now indicated that his government wants Sri Lanka to be discussed at the next meeting of CMAG.  Both opposition parties in Canada have gone further calling on Harper to declare that he would boycott the CHOGM if it is held in Sri Lanka.”

“A debate in both the Houses of Parliament in Britain and a subsequent statement by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office also indicate “deep concern” and called on the Sri Lanka government to “respect democratic principles”."

"In any event, the Sri Lanka government has now done enough to warrant moving the venue for November’s CHOGM to another country.  The Government cannot spurn the advice of the Secretary-General, Commonwealth legal organisation and other international groupings and yet demand to be privileged to host CHOGM.  After all, the location for hosting a Heads of Government meeting must be in the interest of the Commonwealth as a whole."