Commonwealth Day Message from Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma
As Commonwealth Secretary-General it has been my privilege in the past eight years to visit every one of our 53 member states. I have seen
the attraction of the Commonwealth connection: the exceptional regard that it enjoys, and the sense of kinship and affinity that informs it.
There is a bond within the Commonwealth that sets us apart.
Partnership based on shared Commonwealth values and principles, especially mutual respect, is treasured. The Commonwealth sets a high
premium on being inclusive our theme for the year ‹ and on being all-embracing and leaving no one behind, whether nationally or globally.
The Commonwealth is particularly affirming and encouraging of our young citizens as nation builders.
The Commonwealth provides avenues for working together that help the larger family of Commonwealth organisations, which is unique in its
richness and in its contribution and diversity. We are now bound closer together in practical ways in our shared aspirations. In many
different ways, and at many different levels, ideas and knowledge are shared in the Commonwealth family acr
The shaping of the modern Commonwealth Secretariat &#; through the eyes of its former SG&#;s
Today’s Commonwealth Secretariat – from its staffing to its ties with leaders – has been shaped subtlety over the years by its secretaries-generals. Within the Commonwealth Secretariat, the secretary general is often referred to as &#;SG&#;.
In a series of virtual interviews during the COVID lockdown summer of , The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs, posed a range of questions provided by the Round Table’s Editorial Board to the four living secretaries-general.
The interviews seek to probe the thinking behind the changes made by each Secretary General during their time in office. The interviewees Sir Shridath (‘Sonny’) Ramphal (), Chief Emeka Anyaoku (), Sir Donald McKinnon () and Mr Kamalesh Sharma () spoke to Round Table Board member Rita Payne.
Shridath Ramphal recalled his dealings with the late Margaret Thatcher when the Commonwealth took on South Africa’s apartheid system. He also addressed modern-day issues including the statue of Cecil Rhodes in Oxford and globalisation after the COVID pandemic. The transcript is now available.
Emeka Anyaoku
The 22nd Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) opened today in Sri Lanka’s capital city Colombo with a theatrical welcome to leaders and representatives from the Commonwealth’s 53 member countries.
Young people lined the streets of Colombo to greet guests as they made their way to the opening ceremony at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre for the ceremony. Performances included a traditional Sri Lankan welcoming dance and song, and a dance representing the culture, environment and religions of Sri Lanka using folk songs and ‘barata’ and Kandyan dancing.
HRH The Prince of Wales is representing HM Queen Elizabeth II as Head of the Commonwealth.
In his address The Prince spoke about the Charter of the Commonwealth, which reaffirms the core values and principles of the Commonwealth. The Charter was signed by The Queen on Commonwealth Day in March this year.
The Prince said: “At this CHOGM, and guided by that spirit, the Commonwealth is being charged to confront the many issues affecting the security and well-being of its nations and peoples.
“The Queen wishes you well in these vitally important deliberations.”
This year’s CHOGM theme is ‘Gro
Interview with Kamalesh Sharma
Download Interview Transcripts: Part One (9 March ) and Part Two (29 March )
Biography: Sharma, Kamalesh. Born in India. Educated at St Stephen’s College, Delhi and University of Cambridge. Indian Foreign Service, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, UN Secretary General’s Special Representative to East Timor, High Commissioner of India to UK, Commonwealth Secretary General, Chancellor of Queen&#;s University Belfast,
Key:
SO: Sue Onslow
KS: Kamalesh Sharma
Transcript Part One
[Click here to jump to Transcript Part Two]
SO: This is Dr Sue Onslow speaking to Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma at Marlborough House on Wednesday 9th March Sir, thank you very much indeed for agreeing to take part in this oral history project. I wonder if you could begin please by commenting on your selection and election to the post of Secretary General in
KS: I was elected by the Heads in Munyonyo in Kampala in their CHOGM Summit in There were three candidates to begin with. There was the Foreign Minister of Malta, there was Rais Yatim, the longstanding Cabinet Minister who later became the Foreign Minister of Malaysi
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