Talks between the Commonwealth heads of government in Sri Lanka have been overshadowed by desperate scenes of women pleading for help.
They were appealing to the British prime minister as he became the first foreign leader in more than 60 years to visit the north of the country.
For four years the Tamil women have searched for their husbands, sons, and fathers - men who had surrendered at the end of the civil war, and then disappeared.
The women waved letters begging for help to David Cameron, who says he wants an inquiry into the disappearances.
"Appalling acts were committed by the Tamil Tigers as well, we have to be very clear about that," he says. "[But] what we're talking about now is the acts when that war ended."
Foreign Minister Murray McCully also headed north; New Zealand aid is going to a dairy project at the scene of one of the bloodiest battles.
"The prospect of progress is going to be much better if the international community does remain engaged," says Mr McCully. "That includes New Zealand; hence our willingness to get involved in the dairy project."
John Key won't get involved in discussing the past, and nor will he criticise the Sri Lankan president.
"Domestically he's extremely popular, and that's because people do now feel safe," says Mr Key. "I mean, this has been a country that's had suicide bombers for a very long period of time. The rights and wrongs of all the issues are not for us to really delve into."
But delving is exactly what the grieving Tamil families want, and the Mauritian prime minister agrees. He boycotted the summit in protest at the lack of accountability.
Today he went further, announcing his country won't host the next Commonwealth meeting in two years' time.
3 News
source: newshub archive
