All eyes on Sri Lanka as Commonwealth summit begins

Some world leaders boycott summit, citing human rights abuses

Dambulla cave temple. Around 70 per cent of the population are Buddhists.
James Gordon / Flickr / Creative Commons

Sri Lanka’s human rights record has been questioned as a Commonwealth summit takes place in Colombo.

Several Commonwealth leaders have boycotted the event, while British Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to ask “tough questions” of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Sixty-four acts of violence against Protestant Christians – many linked to extremist Buddhist group Bodu Bala Sena – were recorded between January and September of this year, including arson, church demolitions, mob attacks and assaults, reports Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).

The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanks (NCEASL) now has the figure at 65.

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