President Mahinda Rajapaksa expressed the strong objections of Sri Lanka at the decision taken to suspend Pakistan from membership of the Commonwealth, at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kampala, Uganda earlier today.

The Sri Lankan President expressed Sri Lanka’s position when President Yoweri Museveni, who is the Chairman of the CHOGM, asked for the view of Heads of Government to the decision taken by the relevant committee to suspend Pakistan from the Commonwealth in view of current developments there. It was the view of President Rajapaksa that due consideration should be given to the changes that were now taking place in Pakistan before such an important decision is taken regarding a member of the Commonwealth.

President Rajapaksa’s objections to the decision to suspend Pakistan was in keeping with a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held today, which reiterated an earlier decision that Sri Lanka should stand by Pakistan, vis-à-vis the move to suspend her from the Commonwealth, in view of the changes the country was going through at this time.

At a media briefing held at the venue of the CHOGM attended by the President of Uganda and the Mr. Don Mckinnon, Secretary General of the Commonwealth, many questions were asked about the decision to suspend Pakistan, and Sri Lanka’s objection to it. The Secretary General explained that Sri Lanka had acted within her rights as a senior member of the Commonwealth.

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Last Updated Date: November 23, 2007 - 13.20 GMT