The Economist in a blog post today, summarised findings from the hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka.
See extracts below.
“International coverage focused heavily focused on disappearances of people during and after the civil war, media suppression and persistent allegations that war crimes were committed in 2009 as Tamil Tiger rebels were crushed.”
“The president Mahinda Rajapaksa, had hoped these matters would stay hidden beneath the new pavements specially laid in the capital for the summit ,or that the hundreds of journalists who converged on Colombo would be distracted by landscaped parks, coloured fountains and a magnificent line-up of garbed elephants.”
“The Sri Lankan government is bristling. Its supporters ask who Mr Cameron thinks he is to issue deadlines to a sovereign country. Sri Lankan ministers say foreigners have no right to meddle in their affairs. But aides whisper that, behind closed doors, the government knows foreign governments are no longer buying excuses. Something more might have to be done, probably before the Human Rights Council in March.”