The Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Canada has slammed the Canadian government's threat to boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka later this year, accusing Canada was strengthening "evil forces".

In a statement published on Thursday, the High Commissioner, Chitranganee Wagiswara, said it was “appalling and unprecedented for certain quarters to express views," that went against a decision made by the heads of state on who would host the upcoming event.

Wagiswara added,

“Notably certain separatist elements within the diaspora including in Canada, still continue to relentlessly disseminate anti-Sri Lanka propaganda and lobby political leaders and other decision makers,” 

“Hostile criticism and unfair targeting of Sri Lanka by Canada only serves to further strengthen the evil forces working against Sri Lanka and does not contribute in any manner to the ongoing rebuilding and reconciliation process in the multicultural society of the country.”

Responding to the remarks, the spokesperson for Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said:

“Our government has spoken loudly and clearly on the issue of human rights in Sri Lanka, including our concerns on the lack of accountability for the serious allegations of war crimes, lack of reconciliation with the Tamil community, and with the events that have taken place since the end of the civil war.”