15 November 2013

The 22nd Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) opened today in Sri Lanka's capital city Colombo with a theatrical welcome to leaders and representatives from the Commonwealth's 53 member countries.

Young people lined the streets of Colombo to greet guests as they made their way to the opening ceremony at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre for the ceremony. Performances included a traditional Sri Lankan welcoming dance and song, and a dance representing the culture, environment and religions of Sri Lanka using folk songs and 'barata' and Kandyan dancing.

It is very good to see CHOGM back in Asia, home to three-quarters of the people of the Commonwealth. The first-ever CHOGM took place in Singapore in 1971, but it is almost a quarter of a century since a CHOGM was last held in the Asia region: that was in Kuala Lumpur in 1989.

We thank the government and people of Sri Lanka for the generosity, enthusiasm and warmth of their welcome.As one of the eight original members of the modern Commonwealth, Sri Lanka has shown enduring energy and commitment as a member of our global Commonwealth family.

Every two years, Commonwealth leaders meet at CHOGM to discuss global and Commonwealth issues, and to agree on collective policies and initiatives. CHOGMs are organised by the host nation in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Issues discussed include international peace and security, democracy, good governance, sustainable development, debt management, education, environment, gender equality, health, human rights, information and communication technology, law, multilateral trade issues, small states and youth affairs.

CHOGM 2013 will discuss issues that matter greatly to UK. Government Meeting opens in Sri LankaEUR(TM)s This includes seeking a successor to the Millennium Development Goals, which focuses on eliminating absolute poverty and ensuring Commonwealth values, such as the rule of law and good governance, are at the heart of the next development framework.

We will use the visit to Sri Lanka to see the situation on the ground first hand, to meet people on all sides of the conflict, and to raise UK concerns frankly and directly with the Sri Lankan Government. Like every other Commonwealth country Sri Lanka is expected to live up the values of the Commonwealth.

It won't surprise you to know that I will be making the latter argument. I am deeply committed to the Commonwealth and what, at its best, it stands for. Not just out of a sense of tradition and obligation - but of belief. The belief in political freedom which has underpinned this organisation for almost 65 years is as relevant now as it was at the time of the London Declaration. This is not some outdated attempt to impose Westminster ways on the world. Political freedom is innately important in itself. No government crackdown - no force of arms - can forever suppress people's aspirations for a voice and for national independence.