Lankan Prez guest of honour at CWG closing

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is likely to be the guest of honour and will be joined by Prince Edward at the closing ceremony of the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Rajapaksa had accepted a 'joint' invitation from the Indian government and the event organisers, and would be flying to India on Wednesday, according to diplomatic sources and protocol officials in Delhi.

His presence next to Prince Edward, who will close the games on behalf of the Queen, will spark anger from campaigners who have accused Rajapaksa of failing to protect many thousands of civilians who died in battles in the long civil war against Tamil separatists last year, The Guardian reports.

Sri Lankan Member of Parliament and former minister, Rajiva Wijesinha said that it would have been rude and improper not to accept the invitation.

"We have moved on. A lot of people are now aware that the allegations against us were not correct and the new government in the UK have made it clear that they are not continuing the patronising attitude of their predecessors," he said.

Head of protocol for the Commonwealth Games, Aslam Khan, confirmed that the choice of guest for the closing ceremony was a "joint venture between the Indian Government and the organising committee."

Rajapaksa is not expected to speak at the event, Khan added.

Meanwhile, Tamil campaigners have expressed outrage over inviting Rajapaksa as guest of honour.

"It is a shame. The Commonwealth is mainly composed of developing countries and needs to apply international law and humane standards," said Suren Surendiran of the Tamil Global Forum.

The Lankans are considering their own bid for the Commonwealth Games. Rajapaksa is hoping to win the 2018 event for Hambantota, which is his hometown.

Image: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa
Photograph: Nader Daoud/Wikimedia Commons