Activists call for summit boycott
Two of Sri Lanka’s most distinguished human rights activists, who have both survived death threats and assassination attempts, have called on leaders including British Prime Minister David Cameron and the Prince of Wales to boycott a key Commonwealth summit next month.
J C Weliamuna, a lawyer and executive director of Transparency International whose family was forced into hiding after a grenade attack on their home in 2008, said the decision to hold the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo next month was ‘‘shameless’’.
‘‘I would have preferred it if it was not held here,’’ said Weliamuna, drawing a direct parallel between respect for human rights in Sri Lanka and in Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe.
‘‘What’s the difference? The rule of law is collapsing in Sri Lanka.’’ He said the regime of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who has been strongly criticised by the UN for failing to investigate widespread allegations of war crimes, would use the biannual meeting to consolidate its grip on power.
Ruki Fernando, an awardwinning activist, said: ‘‘The leaders who are coming, including David Cameron, are insulting the victims of violence and abuse and they are also insulting the values of the Commonwealth itself. There should be a total boycott.’’
The British Government has confirmed that Cameron will attend the event, saying: ‘‘We do not think that turning away from the problem is the best way to make progress in Sri Lanka.’’