Commonwealth must not be 'judgmental': Sri Lanka leader

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse said Friday the Commonwealth must not be a "judgmental body" as he chaired a summit
which has been dogged by a dispute over alleged war crimes.

"If the Commonwealth is to remain relevant to its member countries, the
association must respond to the needs of its people and not turn into a
punitive or "judgmental body," he said in a speech ahead of the formal opening of the summit by Britain's Prince Charles.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Shaif is also attending the Commonwealth Summit among other leaders of the member countries.