Sri Lankan official slams `judgemental` countries

Colombo: A Sri Lankan official said on Tuesday that no Commonwealth country has the right to judge others, in an apparent reference to the boycott of an upcoming summit in Sri Lanka by the leaders of Canada and India. External Affairs Minister Gamini Peiris said that "within the Commonwealth, there is no room for judgemental positions for some countries to sit in judgment over other countries." He said that passing judgment is contrary to the "essential" nature of the Commonwealth. His remarks came in response to question about the decision by the leaders of Canada and India to boycott the Commonwealth leaders` meeting which is to be held in Colombo from November 15 to 17.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh joined Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in boycotting the summit over concerns about Sri Lanka`s human rights record. The Commonwealth is a loose association of 53 nations made up largely of former British colonies. Peiris said all Commonwealth countries have been invited and that "it`s up to the recipient to accept it or decline."