Looking back on the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting, Sri Lanka’s Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa lamented the absence of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, reported the Hindu.
Speaking on the final day of the summit, Basil Rajapaksa, brother to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said,
“Unfortunately, the Indian Prime Minister was not here; that is my only concern.”
“He is the closest friend we have. Had he come here, he would have run the show.”
“We Asians, we like Indians. He should have been here.”
As the highly controversial summit drew to a close, Rajapaksa was then asked if the country felt pressurised over its human rights record, after facing mounting criticism, lead by British Prime Minister David Cameron.
Rajapaksa responded,
“No... What about the positive comments from Australia, Malaysia and Singapore?”
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