President's Welcome
Sri Lanka is honoured to be hosting the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo. As the highest-level meeting of the Commonwealth, we feel privileged to have been chosen as the host this year.
Having been a member of the Commonwealth of Nations since our independence in 1948, Sri Lanka is committed to upholding Commonwealth values of democracy, rule of law and good governance in the shared vision of bringing better opportunities for people around the world.
At a time when the entire world is facing challenges, whether it's with national economies, political instability or regional security, the Commonwealth continues to play a crucial role, creating partnerships and promoting dialogue.
After suffering for decades from a brutal war against terrorism, Sri Lanka has undergone a tremendous transformation since the end of hostilities in 2009. In preparing for CHOGM 2013, organisers have planned events, not only in Colombo, but also other parts of the country that will hopefully give delegates and participants an opportunity to experience the rich cultural heritage and varied scenic beauty.
As November draws closer, I look forward to welcoming all distinguished delegates and other participants to what I expect to be a productive and successful summit during which we will be able to discuss and take collective decisions on issues facing our nations and our people.
In the months leading up to the conference, we hope this website will serve to assist you in making your arrangements for the meeting. Please don't hesitate to contact CHOGM organisers here in Sri Lanka for any further information you may require and to offer your feedback on improvements we could make.
I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to all those Commonwealth nations, and others, that have supported Sri Lanka in preparing for this event. I look forward to welcoming each of you to CHOGM 2013 and to our beautiful country.
Mahinda Rajapaksa
President of Sri Lanka
CHOGM 2013 WITH SRI LANKAN AIRLINES
