SA can influence Sri Lanka in positive way | Alan Keenan

It was always questionable for the Commonwealth to hold its heads of government meeting in Sri Lanka.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa looked forward to the gathering as a precious opportunity to rebuild his government’s tarnished image, which has suffered in the face of criticism for alleged war crimes committed in May 2009, at the end of a decades-long civil conflict, and for growing authoritarianism since. The Rajapaksa government hoped the Commonwealth meeting would showcase its own, happier, picture of a democratic country at peace, committed to reconciliation and moving forward.

Events, however, have not gone according to the government’s script.

FULL ARTICLE (IOL News)

Photo: PresidentRajapaksa/Flickr