The Bishop of Mannar, Dr Rayappu Joseph, has called on the international community to boycott the forthcoming Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka, saying that this would be the best way to send a message to the government.
"[The summit] is being used to help boost the legitimacy of the Sri Lankan Government as a responsible actor in the International Community. Given the continuing nature of the genocidal acts being perpetrated against the Tamil people it is my considered position that Colombo is not an appropriate venue for CHOGM. I also think to host the meeting in Colombo is in conflict with values enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter. I am in agreement with Archbishop Desmond Tutu that staying away from CHOGM is the best way to send a message to Sri Lanka," Bishop Rayappu said in a statement released on Friday.
"The Honourable Prime Minister of India should accept Northern Province Chief Minister Hon. C.V. Wigneswaran's invitation to visit the Tamil affected areas of Sri Lanka. This however should not be interpreted as an invitation to the Prime Minister to attend CHOGM," he further said.