Will the Commonwealth finally step up in Sri Lanka?

In Sri Lanka, the Commonwealth has a unique opportunity to restore its place on the global stage. But will it work?

Demotix/Tharaka Basnayaka (All rights reserved)

The newly formed government, led by President Sirisena (pictured above) and Prime Minister Wickramasinghe, has made admittedly symbolic gestures to rekindle hope and optimism in Sri Lanka, especially within the minority communities.

TRINANJAN RADHAKRISHNAN 14 December 2015
The 2015 edition of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which was held in Malta from November 27 to 29, marked the 50th anniversary of the Commonwealth’s reincarnation as an intergovernmental association. In the five decades since the modern Commonwealth, the association has displayed its fortitude in times of crises; its firm opposition to apartheid in South Africa and the refusal to be complicit in the political oppression in Zimbabwe are some shining examples of its moral courage. However, in recent years the Commonwealth’s credibility has been bruised and its influence has diminished.

Will the Commonwealth Finally Step Up in Sri Lanka by Thavam Ratna