COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka on Tuesday accused Canada of using its funding of the Commonwealth as a political tool by suspending its $10 million annual contribution while Sri Lanka chairs the group’s secretariat.

Canada, a leading funder of the 53-member Commonwealth of former British colonies, said it will redirect its contribution to programs that promote the group’s values because of concerns over Sri Lanka’s human rights record. Sri Lanka is to chair the secretariat for two years.