COLOMBO : Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath summoned the Canadian High Commissioner Eric Walsh on Wednesday to object to Canada’s approval and inauguration of a Tamil Genocide Monument in Brampton, Ontario.
Herath conveyed the government’s strong opposition to what it called “unfounded genocide allegations” and criticized the monument’s construction. He warned that such actions could undermine Sri Lanka’s efforts toward national unity, reconciliation, and lasting peace among its diverse communities. of Sri Lanka strongly rejects unfounded genocide allegations
and protests construction of misleading monument in Canada
The Government of Sri Lanka maintains that the allegation of genocide during the final
phase of the conflict in Sri Lanka is unsubstantiated by any credible authority, either
nationally or internationally, and is based on misleading information. Sri Lanka firmly
rejects this false narrative and believes it has been propagated primarily for electoral
gains within Canada.
It is worth highlighting that in April 2021, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and
Development of Canada officially confirmed that the Government of Canada has not
made any finding of genocide in Sri Lanka. Additionally, Canada designated the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as a terrorist organization in 2006 and
reaffirmed this designation in June 2024.
The Government of Sri Lanka has repeatedly expressed its strong objections to the
construction of a so-called Tamil Genocide Monument at Chinguacousy Park in
Brampton, Canada. It has consistently urged the Federal Government of Canada to
intervene and prevent this regrettable initiative by the Brampton City Council.
Sri Lanka views this development as offensive to the broader Sri Lankan and Canadian
communities. It strongly believes that the propagation of such unfounded allegations and
the construction of monuments based on fabrications not only mislead the public but
also hinder Sri Lanka’s genuine efforts toward reconciliation, national unity, and lasting
peace among all communities.
In this regard, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath met with the Canadian High
Commissioner today to reiterate the Government of Sri Lanka’s strong objections
regarding the unfounded genocide allegations and the approval of constructing such a
monument, which complicates and undermines the government’s efforts toward
reconciliation and national unity.-( press release from theSri Lanka foreign ministry)
