“Canada’s suspension of voluntary Commonwealth funds announcement is not a surprise. It may be recalled that when the Canadian Prime Minister announced his non attendance of the 2013 CHOGM in Colombo, he also alluded to the issue of cutting back his Government’s contributions to the Commonwealth.” says the Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka.
Minister of External Affairs
Sending an email to Colombo Telegraph the MEA Spokesman said; “during conversation with a Canadian Government representative in Sri Lanka over a year ago it was mentioned that Canada was considering the rationalization of their contributions to international organizations including the Commonwealth.
“When Sri Lanka was to assume Chairmanship of the Commonwealth, the Canadian Government sought to make their reservations in this regard as the reason for the cut.
“Concern has been expressed amongst the wider Commonwealth that the countries which provide the majority of the finances seek to unduly influence the working of the Organization.
“This action by Canada stands in evidence of such machinations.
“Regrettably the Canadian Government has sought to use its voluntary funds as a political tool based on the dictates of electoral compulsions, thereby holding the membership of the wider Commonwealth to ransom, through competing claims for power.
“Further, the relentless action pursued by Canada on Sri Lanka, will only seek to undermine the delicate reconciliation process, as the bona fides of the basis of that Governments trajectory is questionable and not in tandem with the interests of the people of Sri Lanka. It is the GoSL which is best placed to continue the evolution of a home grown solution for its people in accordance with a realistic time frame.
“This action taken by Canada is at variance with the underlying spirit of the Commonwealth as a voluntary Organization of sovereign nations, with diversity being its hallmark.
“Sri Lanka upholds Commonwealth values and has never sought their change. Baird’s comment in justifying Canada’s action is a castigation of the organization as a whole, and believe that the wider Commonwealth stands in solidarity against such manipulations. “
The Three Monkeys - ,I heard it,I saw it and I will speak about it . / April 15, 2014
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / April 16, 2014
What are the three monkeys doing here,
The three monkeys should be in Diyawannaoya Piggery.
What a shame?. like begging.
Any way that is Canada’s tax payers money and they will decide, what to do with their money,
why we wants to worry about somebody’s contributions or donations.
By the way,
$ 20 millions of dollars are a simple amount. when you consider of looted people’s money from Chinese contracts and LTTE coffers for Dhaja Jarapassa clan.
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Palmsquirrell / April 15, 2014
“Sri Lanka upholds Commonwealth values and has never sought their change. Baird’s comment in justifying Canada’s action is a castigation of the organization as a whole, and believe that the wider Commonwealth stands in solidarity against such manipulations. “
It is a castigation of Sri Lanka because of the Rajapaksa regime. Rajapaksa supporters arrogantly think other nations should always support GOSL no matter what.
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Rajash / April 16, 2014
India abstained from the last resolution to use it as a political tool.
ME has bought all opposotion to use as a politcal tool
TNA is using Justice Wigneswaran as a political tool
This guy is an idiot and rambling because he is being used a political tool…
..when he becomes a liability the regime will kick him out …an use perhpas Nonis as a political tool
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Thamara / April 16, 2014
Sharma who kept hiding all important reports and supported the MR government against all odds now can give aid from his own account.
Iam sure you would have got a ‘big cut’ from the MR government to defend and support them.
Cananda warned Sharma that if he goes ahead of his arranged programme that they will cut the funds.
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Pat / April 15, 2014
GL is crying for everything. Only tool he has is, reconciliation. There is much more deviation than reconciliation since the end of war. It is very hard Tamils and Singalese to reconcile together in this island now.
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Thiru / April 15, 2014
That Pee-ris has no brain as Rajapakse realized and castigated recently.
The genocide-accused leading the Commonwealth is dangerous with too much money at his disposal with Shill Sharma as his sidekick.
Canada took the step in the right direction, and hope the others will follow with sanctions.
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mike / April 16, 2014
Thiru, Pee-ris has a brain but it is embedded elsewhere and you know where?
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Amarasiri / April 15, 2014
Dear Minister,
“Canada’s suspension of voluntary Commonwealth funds announcement is not a surprise. It may be recalled that when the Canadian Prime Minister announced his non attendance of the 2013 CHOGM in Colombo, he also alluded to the issue of cutting back his Government’s contributions to the Commonwealth.” says the Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka.”
Who should care. Just ignore.
After all you are ignoring all the incorruptibly and the crimes happening in Sri Lanka.
Tell then that you guys are busy committing crimes inside the county, and you have no time for these unproductive Time waster
s.
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burt / April 15, 2014
‘Who should care”
Canadians.
At least some of their tax dollars are better used.
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Thrishantha / April 15, 2014
Look at what happens when street thugs take over a Government. The whole country gets cornered by the whole World. remember, this is a country that was famous for being a hub between the West and the East that made Ptolemy to daw the map of Sri Lanka several times larger than its physical size.
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Ben Hurling / April 15, 2014
Agree.
Sri Lanka is governed by street smart clowns, their cronies and henchmen.
They are yet to realize international forums are far more manipulative and dangerous than dodgy streets of SL they come from.
Ironically, this stupidity is gradually creating a fantastic opportunity for Ealamistas to carry on with the horrific Ealam project.
Leaders who mismanage Sri Lanka’s much needed, delicate international relations are the true traitors.
Cheers!
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Lasantha / April 16, 2014
We knew Rajapakse “Gan Kabaraya” was going to get trapped by the Western Crocodile Hunters.
West was hunting the world long before Rajapakses went hunting, and they know the tricks very well.
That’s why we CT readers and many writers like Tisaranee, Dr.Laksiri Fernando and Darshana Bastians wrote about the impending doom five years ago.
But moron Rajapakses never listened.He was celebrating and eating Kiribath, while boasting war victory and Challanging the West.
Now there’s nothing that this already trapped Game Chandiya can do, except to do everything what they say. MR got checkmated badly………..GAME OVER.
GLP can bark like a wild dog,nobody will listen and will NOT achieve anything.
MR should not put the country further into abyss. Start corporating with UNHRC investigations now. Today we lost 20,000 US Dollars. What is next…..
No more Hambanthota comedy jokes Please. We have enough clowns in the Parliament.
Eva Balawa…….. My …….
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Seelawathi Samarasinghe / April 16, 2014
Glp strategies are known to many one view to locals and other views to the IC. And not forgetting his mathematical calulations after the UN resoultion against the country was passed. Now they have to see other tactics – by release of prisoners for their advantage, even more stronger attacking RW further, placing BBS to animate muslimc folks.
If the man in power has any capacity, can anybody tell me why the highly abusive attacks carried out by Ghanasara was taken serious. What punishments, he was subjected to have harmed the fellow monks and minority muslim folks there ? Nothing. If we the sinahalaya were one of them the victims, what would have been the reaction to this day, following the brutal incident of BBS on the 9th ?
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Seelawathi Samarasinghe / April 16, 2014
Applogies, why they did not take it serious
Why no law is against BBS thugs ?
Why laws are only for poor ones … minority folks in this country ?
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Mallaiyuran / April 15, 2014
The first response from an International member for Lanka’s proscription of Tamils’ Democratic Organizations.
Lanka’s response of proscribing Tamils’ organization was a response to the international members’ action on Lanka’s human right violations.
Sri Lanka banned legitimate organization rooted in Canada. Canada has replied by punishing an International Organization which gives additional recognition to Lanka.
More to come. Yet hard to predict how is going to looks like? Certainly will depend on the way Lanka cooperate for the inquiry.
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Leelagemalli / April 15, 2014
This man earned all credit at the time he had been a prof. But today, him to be fallen to the very bunch – people call them as thugs nothing more nothing less is a pathetic situation: May be the guy has been dreaming to become the next PM.
However, people of this country want you not to allow any kind Heroin import to the lost paradise, in case you would be the next PM.
Until very recently, I thought only birds of a feather flocked together, but when looking at the way you, GLP behave, I am speechless…
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Citizen / April 15, 2014
G.L.Peiris should first advise his President MR how to abide by the Commonwealth values and respect human rights. What is G.L.Peiris’s view on Latimer House principles and the stand taken by Sri Lanka.
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R. Varathan / April 16, 2014
The tainted Secy-Gen of the Commonwealth Secretariat should be held
responsible for Canada’s action. Canada did not resort to such extreme action earlier – ever. Earlier Canadian PM Harper, unprecedentedly, charged Sharma of being “a Rajapakse sheel” meaning
Sharma went out of his way to accommodate Rajapakse. There were wide accusations Sharma was not doing this “for nothing”
The controversial man should have been removed immediately after the Colombo meeting. Sharma has tarnished the good name of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
R. Varathan
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Saman / April 18, 2014
R. Varathan,
Yes, now CW SG Sharma’s seat in hot persuit after siding with Pres.Rajapakse.
If few more CW rich donor countries refuse funding, CW will be in a total mess.
Hope both Sharma and Rajapakse understand the situation.
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sama / April 15, 2014
Alone the fact that his lead lost the nation by 23 votes (nearly 50%) and created a situation 12 (25%) potential canddiate states not to support srilanka, proved I think enough the abilities of this theoretical book worm.
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Park / April 15, 2014
Canada should have moved a motion to kick Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma, who hid reports from the members out of Commonwealth.
Even now after the UN resolution it appears that Sri Lankan regime has not understood the impact of the resolution and what it could do to the People of Sri Lanka. In actual fact the resolution is not against Sri Lankan citizens its against the regime and its actions.
Tit for tat actions taken by the regime after the passing of the resolution will only put the country into more difficulties in the future.
If the regime continues with its tit for tat actions, then the senior leaders of the regime will have a difficult time as their travels, funds in banks and standing in the global political arena will be restricted. By not working with UN it will become easy for the UN to unilaterally bring about various restrictions on the regime.
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Vibhushana / April 15, 2014
Well gee,
The external affairs seem to have no answer to an ever increasing array of enemies there.
It reminds me the time of Prbakaran. The guy behaved like a Mule too until an impressive array of international forces worked against to take him out.
Isn’t there anyone there who can shut down BBS at least? It will probably halve your workload if you do.
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pujitha / April 15, 2014
This shameless man is prepare to talk any senseless rubbish to defend the lawless regime.
He says that govt of Sri Lanka uphold the commonwealth values and act completely opposite to those values.
Recently, in the case that challenged the appointment of the great stooge Mohan Peiris as the CJ, the Supreme Court, now remotely controlled by the President, ruled that the Court is powerless to question the legality and correctness of the decision taken by the President to appoint Mohan Peiris as the Chief Justice. This is the independence of the Judiciary this blind professor talk about.
With the retirement of Justice, Amaratunga there exists a vacancy in the Supreme Court. This stooge is now in the look out for the best subservient man to be appointed for the vacancy, that will tolerate any wrongdoing committed by the lawless regime.
This is the kind of good governance we, the people of Sri Lanka is forced to condone under this regime corrupt to the core.
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Eusense / April 15, 2014
Who is the loser here? Sri Lanka, Canada or the entire Commonwealth?
Its time to disband.
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srilal / April 15, 2014
“Who is the loser here?”
definitely , Canada !
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burt / April 15, 2014
“Its time to disband.”
No it is not: CW is a strong voice recognized internationally at critical times so disbanding is not the answer. What it should do is kick out the undesirables out of the club and make the voice much stronger.
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Eusense / April 17, 2014
burt,
You say “CW is a strong voice recognized internationally”.
Can you give me few examples of their good deeds to the world because of their “strong voice”?
Were they “for” or “against” going to Iraq, Afghanistan? What voice did they make in any world affairs???
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Native Vedda / April 15, 2014
Nuisance
“Its time to disband.”
Sri Lanka!
You have an option, please feel free to leave Commonwealth. This institution not only will survive but thrive without Sri Lanka. If I may, I suggest you have your reality checked as you are losing it by the second.
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Lasantha / April 16, 2014
GLP the educated Idiot did not know the difference between Diplomacy, Public Relations, Constructive criticism and arrogance.
He and our whole UNHRC team were behaving more like “Game Chandiyas” thinking Geneva is Hultsdorf “Mariakade”.
Now the chicken has come home to roost.
Learn from Indians. Go and study in India as to how to be a Diplomat. It takes 15 years to be a DIPLOMAT in India.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62QImLo20ak
Watch the following video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB3xM93rXbY
Good Luck.
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Eusense / April 17, 2014
Vedda,
Can you point out to me what reality that I have lost?
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Saman / April 18, 2014
Yes. Disband the current CW head. If one more CW country withhold it’s contribution, the head might have to Leave the seat. Shame.
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Mohideen / April 15, 2014
Deaf and blind Peiris, when worked as the law faculty, was a respected gentleman.
Today, lost his credibility altogether, has reduced to nothing worthwhile.
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but / April 16, 2014
When people come to a certain age they should retire with dignity. All he has done is shown to the world that he is a spine less old man just hanging on to a gravy train bringing disrepute to himself and country.
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Lasantha / April 16, 2014
GLP the educated Idiot did not know the difference between Diplomacy, Public Relations, Constructive criticism and arrogance.
He and our whole UNHRC team were behaving more like “Game Chandiyas” thinking Geneva is Hultsdorf “Mariakade”.
Now the chicken has come home to roost.
Learn from Indians. Go and study in India as to how to be a Diplomat. It takes 15 years to be a DIPLOMAT in India.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62QImLo20ak
Watch the following video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB3xM93rXbY
Good Luck.
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Saman / April 16, 2014
GLP, The self made “Super man” and “Flying Fish” now been made a Clown by International community.
Keep Barking until the teeth falls you idiot.
Game over. Go hang your Black cloak.
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Citizen / April 16, 2014
Mohideen,
I think GLP is expecting to be the Prime Minister, which will never happen. I heard that MR was scolding GLP as to whether he is really a Professor over the Crimean issue. Utter shame.
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Wickramasiri / April 15, 2014
The Canadian action is not justified. The Commonwealth Secretariat functions for all the constituent countries, not only Sri Lanka. Wrong decision by immature political leaders. On the other hand G.L.Peiris is a liar. Sri Lanka does not uphold commonwealth values, and further more does not believe in reconciliation. The actions of both governments only affect the poor citizen here.
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Truth / April 15, 2014
Harper,
If you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.
If you lie down with pigs, all you ever get is dirty
The Tamil Tigers will bite the hands that feed them.
Then it is too late for Harper to harp back on his folly.
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aratai / April 15, 2014
.
Head of Commonwealth is accused of war crimes.
Shame on Commonwealth nations.
:-)
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Safa / April 15, 2014
Wonder what is happening in the Commonwealth. Maybe they are cooking Gobi for dinner? Cheap Justice was also seen at Carlton House to celebrate Avurudu, eat Kavun Kokis and do Ganu Denu. Dependence of the Judiciary? Gal Peera and Basil were not to be seen. Mahinda fed Gota with his own hand, how sweet.
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Samantha Udiragama / April 15, 2014
Ruling Corrupt Regions which promotes terrorism, destroying democracy independant judiciary, elect thugs and uneducated illeterate relations to high positions paying (robbing) himongous salaries and bonuses nad you dumb fk gl peries you telling the world that sri lanka abides by the common wealth princples? Do you truly belive that sri lanka does not have problems created by rajapassas? Uneducated MORON should be shot to death.
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Lasantha / April 16, 2014
Until the end of LTTE war in 2009, our Foreign delegaion Behaved very respectfully, Friendly and well qualified, but soon after winning the war the Delegation was replaced with unqualified, in-experienced Morons.
They behaved more like “Game Chandiyas” than Diplomats. Even GLP was behaving like “Game Chandiya” than a Diplomat although he is educated.
After spending Billions upon Billions of Rupees on CHOGM in 2013, now the country is facing embarrasment, humiliation, disgrace and monetary loss in front of the world.
We lost UNHRC resolution due to incompetience, adament and moronic behaviour of our Foreign Ministry. We don’t know who guides them.
GLP was the most Travelled FM with over 200 foreign trips around the world to gather Friends for UNHRC, but still failed.At the moment GLP is holidaying in Moldives.
It’s time for GLP to step down as head of Foreign Ministry.
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Jayantha / April 16, 2014
Finally Alibaba and the Gang of Thieves are coming to open light.
After spending over Three Billion Dollars on CHOGM and unlimited trips and Air travel wasting Tax payer money, now even we loose funding from Canada. How many orther countries will follow Canada? This concerns all of us the cirizens.
This is a disgrace and a humiliation to our country. People should question from GLP for this humiliation and loss of Development funds. Sri Lanka is a Third world country and not USA. We need the West for our survival. Morons should understand this.
Bad mouth GLP should be Replaced. This is a humiliation to our country and not for GLP. Happy holiday in Moldives GLP.
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kusum / April 16, 2014
all the best
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justice / April 16, 2014
GLPeris in his dotage has sold his birthright – law,order & justice – to the Rajapakse devil.
Even the devil does not trust him,as there is a “supervising MP” who watches his every move.
Harper and Rajapakse are poles apart – there is no comparison.
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kris / April 16, 2014
Who cares ,this commonwealth fund never used for the benefit of Sri Lankan People therefore why we should we worry about it , Commonwealth has to suspense their work for two years to other poor countries
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Saman / April 16, 2014
At least Pres.Rajapakse should recover some of the Three Billion Dolars spent on CHOGM.
How he is going to do that. Now we are in a worst situation than before, after been head of CW.
Eventually some one has to teach somebody how to behave.
Looks like opposition is silent on this.
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burt / April 16, 2014
How do you find fault with this?
““We can no longer justify providing additional funding to an organization that turns a blind eye to human rights abuses, anti-democratic behaviour and religious intolerance in its member states.”
Mr. Baird said the money, which totals $20-million over two years, would instead go to efforts to combat early and forced marriage and human-rights promotion in Commonwealth countries.”
Once again Canada is leading by example. Hope countries within and outside CW follows.
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HL Seneviratne / April 16, 2014
Mr Minister,
You are talking about a “Delicate reconciliation process”, and “Sri Lanka upholding Commonwealth values”. You do not seem to be telling the truth.
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HL Seneviratne / April 16, 2014
Mr Minister, You are talking about a “delicate reconciliation process” and “Sri Lanka upholding Commonwealth values. You don’t seem to be telling the truth.
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Pakshe / April 16, 2014
This man cannot say boo to a sheep. He has no backbone or self respect. He is the perfect man for the job. He will take all the verbal abuse from the lokka and then kiss his behind and ask how high he needs to jump. The secretariat is under Sri Lankan leader ship and therefore the withholding of funds is aimed at this country and also at all the other countries that allowed a government of thugs to become the head of the commonwealth. Well done.
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aney ban ! / April 16, 2014
MR is so 1980’s and does not suit the needs of 2014+
We never clashed with other governments until MR came in,media killings,supression,life time president,rampant pilferage of public land and money,crony capitalism..the list goes on.
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