Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird has stated it was “not a good day for the Commonwealth” after a searing condemnation of the Commonwealth remained steadfast in its decision to host its Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka later this year.

The Tamil Refugee Council has called on the Australian government to immediately end its policy of deporting asylum seekers to Sri Lanka, after the case of another Tamil being tortured by Sri Lankan security forces was revealed earlier this week.

A spokesperson for the organisaiton, Aran Mylvanagam, said,

“Australia’s policy on Sri Lanka and on asylum seekers and refugees is in turmoil. It is morally, ethically and legally bankrupt”.

Speaking at the Canadian parliament's question period on Wednesday, the MP for Toronto Centre, and former Leader of the Liberal Party, Bob Rae said that it was "preposterous" for the Rajapaksa regime to be chairing the Commonwealth for two years following CHOGM in Sri Lanka, and questioned "why would Canada not invite the Commonwealth countries to come to Canada, for Canada to host the conference".

Responding to the MP Rae's comments, the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he spoke for many in saying that he was "deeply troubled" by the prospect of CHOGM 2013 in Sri Lanka, and reiterated that "it would be very difficult for this government to fully participate."

In a joint submission to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, rights groups called on the CMAG to 'lay down clear benchmarks' to Sri Lanka in order for it to be allowed to host CHOGM 2013.

The groups included: Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA),  CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination (IMADR) and Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace & Justice.

Adding to a list of benchmarks outlined last year, the groups called for the following:

• Reinstate the Chief Justice;
• Release or charge all political prisoners and provide full public access to a data-base of
names/locations of those still held; and
• Ensure an enabling environment for civil society with full protection of the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

Writing on the blog on the 'No Fire Zone' documentary, director Callum Macrae called on the Commonwealth to listen to growing calls worldwide and ensure that Sri Lanka not be allowed to host the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November.

He writes:

Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa held a secret meeting on the Northern Provincial Council elections with 24 other individuals in Jaffna, according to reports.

The meeting comes as government sources announce that Velayutham Dayanithy, or Daya master - a former LTTE media coordinator, will be standing for election at the NPC polls under the ruling UPFA banner.

Members of the UNP held a candlelight protest, calling on the government to scrap the recent electricity tariff increases, forcing the sitting to be adjourned.

TNA MPs MA Sumanthiran and S Yogeshwaran also supported the opposition in their protest.

While UNP and other opposition members shouted slogans, members of the ruling coalition threw water bottles at them, reported The Island:

The Bharain Council of Representatives Speaker, Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Dhahrani, outlined the importance of fortifying parliamentary cooperation between the Bharaini and Sri Lankan parliaments, in a visit to Sri Lankan parliament Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa.

Whilst presenting an open invitation to the Sri Lankan parliament Speaker to visit Bahrain and discuss bilateral parliamentary cooperation, Al Dhahrani stressed the need of the two nations to coordinate stances at international and Asian gatherings,

Sri Lanka’s Sunday Times has reported increased incidents of sexual harassment and other attacks on tourists.

The paper reported that police sources said local politicians are behind the attacks.

See excerpts below: