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TORONTO — Canada is suspending its $10-million contribution to the Commonwealth Secretariat over the alleged human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, which currently chairs the 53-nation alliance, Foreign Minister John Baird said Monday.

Mr. Baird said Ottawa could no longer justify funding “an organization that turns a blind eye to human rights abuses, anti-democratic behavior and religious intolerance in its member states.” The money will be directed elsewhere, he said.

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Sri Lanka began a two-year term as Chair-in-Office after hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting last year. Prime Minister Stephen Harper boycotted the summit over concerns about wartime atrocities and human rights abuses.

Since defeating the Tamil Tigers rebels in 2009, Sri Lanka has faced mounting allegations its forces committed war crimes during the final months of the separatist conflict. The United Nations launched a formal investigation last month.