The president of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) has just called on Australian premier Kevin Rudd to register a protest against the controversial sacking of Sri Lanka's chief justice recently.  CLA president Alex Ward has called on Rudd not to attend. 'It’s very important to see how he reacts because going to Sri Lanka is giving it the tick of approval,' said Ward, according to Lawyers Weekly. 'It would make a mockery of the Commonwealth and its principles.'

Pressure over human rights abuses

The United Nations has been putting pressure on Sri Lanka to accept investigations into allegations of human rights abuse. London-based GC Geoffrey Robertson is also calling for a boycott of the heads of government meeting. He conducted a review of the impeachment of Sri Lanka's chief justice and is urging a boycott from 'governments which respect the rule of law'.