Commonwealth should not be a punitive or judgmental body, Sri Lanka President says

Nov 15, Colombo: In order for the Commonwealth to remain relevant to its member countries, the Association must respond sensitively, to the needs of its peoples and not let it turn into a punitive or judgmental body, Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa said opening the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting today.

Welcoming the leaders and delegates of 53 member countries of the Commonwealth at the opening ceremony of the 22nd Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo, the President said the CHOGM 2013 will provide the opportunity for the members of the organization to assess its achievements with regard to development goals.

Although economic priorities take center stage, people are the greatest wealth of the nations, the President said.

Cautioning against attempts to introduce bilateral agendas into the Commonwealth, the Sri Lankan leader said the member countries need to help one another and stay together.

"We must also collectively guard against bilateral agendas being introduced into the Organization, distorting Commonwealth traditions and consensus. The strength of the Organisation lies in keeping the member countries together, helping one another in a spirit of partnership, making the Commonwealth truly unique," President Rajapaksa said.

He said the Commonwealth faced with tough challenges need to ask itself few questions.

The Sri Lankan President asked whether the need for basic facilities, healthcare, education, productive employment, access to food and safe drinking water, eradication of poverty and hunger, are of lesser importance than political concerns.

He said the Commonwealth should collectively strive towards the realization of development goals, to enable its member countries to reap economic benefits?

"Shouldn't we be addressing more vigorously the issue of 'common poverty' before we talk about 'common wealth'?" the President asked.

The President said the deliberations in Colombo must lead to the greatest practical benefits for the peoples of a renewed Commonwealth, one that is engaging, collaborative and unifying, rather than prescriptive and divisive.

President Rajapaksa's Full Speech at the opening of CHOGM 2013