A "pull aside" or informal meeting and discussion is possible as there will be several occasions for leaders to meet on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Indian officials told the media when asked whether there would be a formal meeting between Khurshid and Rajapaksa.
There has been a strong demand from political parties in Tamil Nadu for India to totally boycott the CHOGM. Khurshid has justified his presence by saying India has to remain engaged with Sri Lanka in the interest of ethnic Tamils of the island and in India's own "enlightened national interest".