Sri Lanka hits out at Canada

Sri Lanka Friday said that Canada's "hostile criticism" of Colombo strengthened "evil forces" and did not contribute to the reconciliation process in the island nation.

Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to Canada Chitranganee Wagiswara said her country looked to all states in the Commonwealth to uphold the principles of objectivity, understanding and mutual respect, reports Xinhua.

Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird had publicly criticized the failure by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) to take action on Sri Lanka at its recent meeting in London.

Canada has accused Sri Lanka of grave human rights violations during the final stages of the war against the Tamil Tigers which the guerrillas lost four years ago.

Wagiswara said in a statement that the CMAG had no role in the matter of a decision concerning the venue of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting as this was the prerogative of the heads of government.

"It is therefore appalling and unprecedented for certain quarters to express views opposing this consensual decision by the Commonwealth Member States at the highest level," she said.

The high commissioner said the need of the hour from the Commonwealth was to assist and support Sri Lanka vis-a-vis post conflict challenges to ensure sustainable peace.

She said separatist elements in the Tamil diaspora including in Canada still continued to disseminate anti-Sri Lanka propaganda and lobby leaders and other decision makers in the West against Sri Lanka.