Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has attacked the lack of press freedom in Sri Lanka while defending the government's decision to attend a Commonwealth summit in the country.
He did so when answering questions in the Commons yesterday from a Lib-Dem party colleague, Simon Hughes.
Clegg spoke of unspecified "consequences" if the Sri Lankan government "continue to ignore their international commitments" in the months leading up to the Commonwealth heads of government meeting, due to take place in November.
He referred to the "suppression of press freedom" along with "politically-motivated trials" and assaults on lawyers as "despicable human rights violations."
But he thought the decision by prime minister David Cameron to attend was an "opportunity to cast a spotlight on the unacceptable abuses."
There have been increasing reports of press freedom violations since the ending of the country's civil war in May 2009 (see here).
Sources:Reuters/Daily Mail/Daily Telegraph/Sri Lanka Campaign for peace and justice