PORT-OF-SPAIN - There was some confusion from the Canadian government Friday over whether it will support Sri Lanka's bid to host the next Commonwealth summit.
A spokesman for the prime minister, Dimitri Soudas, emailed a one-line statement opposing the Sri Lanka bid to reporters travelling with the prime minister in Trinidad and Tobago, where this year's Commonwealth summit is taking place.
Soudas declined further on-the-record comment. However, a senior government official told The Canadian Press in an email that "we continue to be concerned with the situation in the Sri Lanka."
"Canada continues to urge the government of Sri Lanka to ensure full and unhindered humanitarian access to internally displaced populations," said the official, on the condition his name not be used.
"Canada strongly supports the early, safe and voluntary return of internally displaced populations to their home communities."
But later Friday, Peter Kent, parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs, said no decision had been taken about a position on Sri Lanka hosting the next Commonwealth.
"There was no announcement today. No decision has yet been taken Canada's position on the hosting of the next Commonwealth summit," Kent said.
Asked by reporters why Soudas's email that morning said Canada would not support Sri Lanka's hosting of the next Commonwealth summit, Kent repeated that a final decision hasn't been made.
"Canada has not decided which country to support to host the next summit."
Sri Lanka announced at the last meeting of former British colonies in 2007 that it wanted to host the 2011 Commonwealth meeting.
But other countries, particularly Britain, oppose Sri Lanka's bid because of the government's brutal military campaign against the Tamil Tigers earlier this year.
The Commonwealth has 53 members from four continents representing almost a third of the world's population.
The group aims, among other things, to promote democracy and human rights among its member states.
