DHAKA: Commonwealth leaders wrapped up a summit in Sri Lanka on Sunday, putting on a united front after talks dominated by a bitter dispute over war crimes.

Leaders were expected to issue joint statements on issues such as debt management and funding to combat the threat which smaller countries face from climate change, before flying out of Colombo.

But the show of unity will do no more than mask the divisions within Commonwealth ranks after three days of talks which have been overshadowed by recriminations over the bloody end in 2009 to Sri Lanka’s 37-year war.

Australian prime minister Tony Abbott, who was handing over the chairmanship of the Commonwealth to Sri Lanka, acknowledged ‘more needed to be done’ to address concerns about its rights record but said he wanted to be friends with Colombo.

BDST: 1533 HRS, NOV 17, 2013
RoR/BSK