External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid is likely to head the Indian delegation at the CHOGM Summit to be held in Sri Lanka next week. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to skip the summit. The decision comes in the backdrop of the opposition by political parties in Tamil Nadu and a section in Congress.

The Prime Minister is likely to write to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa by tomorrow regarding his decision. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit is to be held on the 15th and 16th of this month.

Political parties in Tamil Nadu and several other outfits have opposed India's participation at any level in the CHOGM meet alleging that the Sri Lankan government had committed gross violation of human rights and had no plans to devolve powers to the ethnic Tamils.

MEA spokesperson had earlier said, in 10 summit level meetings since 1993, the Prime Minister represented India five times while on four occasions, ministers had headed the Indian delegation. There was one instance of the Vice President representing India.

He said New Delhi focused on what is required for India's national interest, its foreign policy priorities and international obligations. Taking those into account, the Indian delegation was led by different people,” he said.