PM likely to attend CHOGM in Colombo

The visit has faced opposition from law makers in Tamil Nadu

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo, despite strong opposition from lawmakers in Tamil Nadu.

Earlier this week, the Congress Core Committee discussed the Prime Minister's proposed visit, keeping in mind the country's strategic relations with Sri Lanka, and also the sentiments of the people in Tamil Nadu, who have been demanding that India boycott CHOGM over human rights abuse and war crimes against Sri Lankan Tamils.

The Tamil Nadu state assembly on October 24 unanimously passed a resolution urging the Union Government to boycott CHOGM, which would be held in Colombo in November.

The resolution said India should not send even representatives for the meeting being hosted by Sri Lanka. "The Indian Government should also take steps to get Sri Lanka suspended from the CHOGM until the Island nation ensures Tamils get equal rights at par with the Sinhalese," the resolution said.

This resolution, which was moved by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, was hailed by many political parties, including the DMK, the DMDK, the Congress, the CPI and the CPM.

Expressing regret over a resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to India, Prasad Kariyawasam had said the resolution is based on misinformation, and invited Tamil Nadu leaders to visit his country to assess the situation on ground themselves.