Prime Minister Tony Abbott has praised Sri Lanka for its efforts to address human rights issues and allegations of war crimes at the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
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As heads of state and delegations from 51 Commonwealth countries gathered in Colombo, Mr Abbott said Sri Lanka had emerged from a brutal civil war committed to democratic pluralism based on the rule of law.
''With peace has come more freedom and more prosperity - we are here to praise as much as to judge,'' he said.
Other Commonwealth prime ministers, notably Britain's David Cameron and Canada's Stephen Harper, have fiercely condemned Sri Lanka's reconciliation efforts and human rights abuses since the end of its civil war in 2009 but Mr Abbott said Sri Lanka had made significant and promising progress.
Handing over the chairmanship of CHOGM to Sri Lanka, Mr Abbott said the establishment of the Commonwealth charter, which promotes democracy, human rights and the rule of law, was Australia's ''great achievement'' for the Commonwealth.
Mr Abbott will meet with Sri Lanka's President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, during CHOGM. The pair will discuss, in particular, Australian and Sri Lankan co-operation to combat people smuggling.
Ben Doherty
