Sri Lanka has accused the Canadian government of using the funding it gives to the Commonwealth as a political tool, holding the body to ransom due to electoral politics, reported Colombo Gazette.
Canada yesterday suspended its voluntary funding to the Commonwealth over ongoing human rights concerns in Sri Lanka and condemning the country’s role as the organisation’s chair.
“It is the Government of Sri Lanka which is best placed to continue the evolution of a home grown solution for its people in accordance with a realistic time frame,” an External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said to the Colombo Gazette.
“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.”
The spokesperson added that Sri Lanka upholds Commonwealth values and Canada’s move is a castigation of the organisation as a whole, but Sri Lanka believes that the “wider Commonwealth stands in solidarity against such manipulations”, according to the Colombo Gazette.
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