Canada to Block Sri Lanka Bid for Summit: PMO

Kate Yule
Friday, November 27, 2009

The prime minister’s office says it will try to prevent Sri Lanka from winning its bid to hold the next Commonwealth summit.

Canada is joining other Commonwealth members who oppose the bid because of the government’s continuing conflict with the Tamil Tigers.

Harper spokesman Dimitri Soudas released the one-line statement, but has refused to comment further.

However, a senior government official has told The Canadian Press that they ‘continue to be concerned with the situation in the Sri Lanka.’

In 2007, at the last meeting of the former British colonies, Sri Lanka announced it wanted to host the 2011 meeting.