PM Manmohan may attend CHOGM – says Indian media !
Posted on November 1st, 2013
P.A.Samaraweera, Melbourne
The Indian media had reported‚ that‚ PM‚ Dr. Singh is most likely to attend the CHOGM. The Congress Core Committee had evaluated the PM’s attendance and had decided that the benefits in attending the summit outweigh the ‘costs’.‚ Some issues that they looked into‚ had been maintaining good relations, strategic interests of India etc. The Core Committee had also been concerned that non-attendance would make Sri Lanka get closer to China and Pakistan. Further, a boycott would be considered as a‚ snub by Sri Lanka. And that would have‚ further deteriorated the relationship between New Delhi and Colombo.India as well has to play its cards carefully as Indian elections are‚ in April 2014. As it is, Sri Lanka is on a strong wicket, because so far only Canada is runnning away from the CHOGM. According to political analysts, it is India which will be isolated by not attending the summit.
If the Indian PM’s‚ visit come through, it should be considered a bold decision because the Tamil Nadu had passed a resolution calling India to boycott the CHOGM. They had gone to the extent of demanding that Sri Lanka be suspended from the Commonwealth. Tamil Nadu politics‚ is nothing but‚ bashing Sri Lanka. If‚ the Indian PM‚ attends the summit, all the drumming done by celluloid idols Jayalalithaa, Karunanidhi and their acoloytes would go down the drain.
November 1st, 2013 at 3:57 pm
Vast majority of Sri Lankans do not want Turban Singh on Sri Lankan soil. Sri Lanka does not miss Singh. When Singh voted against Sri Lanka on two seperate occasions at the UNHRC, Sri Lanka can manage its affairs quite satisfactorily with Pakistn, Russia and China supporting sincerely. India has been Sri Lanka’s only enemy for centuries. What is the point in attending CHOGM at the 11th hourdicision. It is good as no good. Just bugger off Singh.
November 1st, 2013 at 4:52 pm
Tamils have lost again.
They have been begging Man Moron Singh not to come but he seems to be on his way. A BOLD decision just 1 year to go for Tamil Madu elections.
November 1st, 2013 at 8:28 pm
To all those foreign leaders waiting to criticize Sl on human rights and all those women holding photographs of missing persons and journalists we say HR of 20million Sri lankans are more important than those terrorists or the journalists who aided and abetted terrorists. SL army did not kill a single person other than in battle. It is very possible that those pictures are the real faces of terrorists. If not they should show proof without bringing unsubstantiated allegations.
November 2nd, 2013 at 4:05 am
Attending or boycotting CHOGM by PM Manmohan will not change the play of political Game with Sri Lanka.
Tamil Terrorism has roots in Tamil Nadu. All Tamil Nadu Tamils don´t accept the unnecessary presenting of the Sri Lankan Tamils. Upto now many live in the refujee camps. LTTE supporters from western countries have invested
in many Business. Even many TN Tamils know about this trouble makers to their homeland and Tamil Nadu
they are unable to take any action aginst them. Because if you have money you can buy everything other than
mother and Father in India . Vaiko,Nedumaren,Seeman, and so many others have no other work than
speaking aginst GOSL.
November 2nd, 2013 at 5:40 am
At last, the Emperor may visit. Will one of the suicide bombers blow him up? If not he should be thankful to the non=Indians in Sri lanka.
November 2nd, 2013 at 11:21 am
Dear Mr. P.A. Samaraweera.,.Melbourne, Australia. Thanks for sharing your views with Lankaweb readership.
Apart from CHOGM, Sri Lanka must insist upon Australia BAN LTTE & their crooks, engaing in more illegal activities. Australia is the ONLY country so far have not banned this TAMIL TERRORIST org. Most EU countries & USA /Canada have banned LTTE & Tamil rump for many years.
It is Australia that has been a stumbling block & sooner that country, bans this organization the better for Australia as well.
As you live in Australia I am sure you are in touch “United Sri Lanka Assn” in NZ & Australia. Perhaps you could start a campaign to get LTTE banned by Australian authorities.
Thank you all………~ J
November 3rd, 2013 at 11:53 am
GOSL expecting an investment bonanza from CHOGM, but I believe that targeted BILATERAL initiatives is the way to go!
CHOGM will only provide a global platform for Sri Lanka’s enemies to HIGHLIGHT their CRITICISM of Sri Lanka!
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Sri Lanka identifies key investment projects for Commonwealth Business Forum participants
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 03, Colombo: Sri Lanka has identified several key areas for investment opportunities to offer to the attendants of the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) that will coincide with the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka from 15th to 17th November, 2013.
The Commonwealth Business Forum will be held from 12th to 14th November at the Hotel Cinnamon Grand in Colombo.
The Forum, organized by the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) in collaboration with the Sri Lankan government, is seen as a great opportunity for Sri Lanka to enlighten the world about the investment potentials in the island.
It is the premier business event in the Commonwealth bringing together Heads of Government, Ministers, and top business leaders from around the world and will be attended by over a thousand delegates, according to the CBC.
The main goal of the Forum is to enlighten the attendants from the Commonwealth countries as well as from other participating countries on the vast investment opportunities available in the island in various sectors and attract foreign direct investment from potential investors.
With this objective, the CBC jointly with the Board Investment (BOI) has identified investment opportunities which could be offered to potential foreign investors during the CBF.
Tourism and Leisure, Higher Education and Training, Agriculture and Fisheries, Health, Information Technology, Manufacturing and Agro-processing and Infrastructure including Aviation have been identified as key areas to promote foreign investment.
The Cabinet last week approved a proposal by Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena to proceed with the relevant activities of the CBF.
Sri Lanka has also organized the ‘Reflection of Sri Lanka’ a mega exposition to showcase the country’s trade, tourism and investment potential to the global visitors who will be in the country to attend the Commonwealth Summit.
The four-day event is co-organized by the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Export Development Board (EDB) functioning under it, and joined by Sri Lanka Tourism, and the Board of Investment.
The ‘Reflection of Sri Lanka’ will be held from November 13 at the Jana Kala Kendraya (Folk Arts Center), in Battaramulla.
The exposition is aimed at illustrating Sri Lanka’s capacity to easily integrate with global value chains. It will also highlight the country’s logistic capabilities, high knowledge base, and its dedication to international compliance standards encasing trade, tourism and investment opportunities in them.
According to Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiyutheen, 660 local and international exhibitors and more than 800 potential buyers from 31 countries have confirmed their participation in the event.
According to EDB, 579 local exhibitors in SME, tourism, trade and investment have come forward to enlist for Reflection’s trade exposition. Another 81 Foreign companies as machinery and hi-tech equipment exhibitors from key hotspot markets such as China, India and Germany will participate.