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Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

The Sri Lanka High Commission and Consulate General hold the first International Day of Remembrance and tribute to the victims of terrorism

The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Ottawa and Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Toronto virtually hold the first International Day of Remembrance and tribute to the victims of terrorism on 21stAugust 2021 at 6.00 p.m.

The General Assembly, in its resolution 72/165 (2017), established 21 August as the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism in order to honor and support the victims and survivors of terrorism and to promote and protect the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The programme commenced with observing a minute of silence in memory of all victims of terrorism. The Acting High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Canada, Mrs. Sithara Khan delivered the welcome address. Consul General for Sri Lanka in Toronto Mr. Kapila Jayaweera also made an address. Hon. Yasmin Ratansi, Member of Parliament for Don. Valley East Canada and the Chair of the Canada Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group who addressed the event recalled her visits to Sri Lanka and to the Northern and Eastern Provinces and stated that “It was important to me visit some of the places where young kids who were taken by the LTTE to fight for them and hear the horror stories that Tamils themselves were used as human shields by the LTTE”.

The Keynote address was delivered by Dr. Sarath Chandrasekara, Sessional Professor in Sociology at the university of Toronto and McMaster University, former Civil Servant, Canadian Civil Service of the Federal Public Service and Professor of Social Work at the National Institute of Social Development (NISD) Sri Lanka. In his address, Dr. Chandrasekara defined ‘terrorism’ and genocide according to the UN definitions and also explained the countries which were vulnerable to terrorist attacks and how it had affected the social life of people in the world. He also referred to Sri Lanka’s experience and stated that the “LTTE forced people to contribute and Canada was a leading contributor in the amount of Canadian Dollars 280,000 per month which went for arms purchase. Tamil businesses in Canada were asked to pay 10% to 20% of their income or profit to the so called liberation war. Although Canadian RCMP was fully aware about of these transactions they were not allowed to publicize the details”. He further stated that the LTTE recruited young children as cadre and used women as suicide bombers. He also stated that the LTTE invaded public schools and recruited students, children to their cadre and also disable women were used as suicide bombers”

The event which was well attended was compered by Mrs. Lashinka Dammullage, Counsellor of the High Commission.

 

Sri Lanka High Commission

Ottawa

21st August 2021

(youTube)

 

Note to the Sri Lankan community in Canada

The High Commission of Sri Lanka is aware that some interested parties have launched ‘genocide allegations’ against Sri Lanka in the month of May 2019.  A declaration by the Brampton City Council and Resolutions 94, 97 and 104 in the Ontario Parliament have been made in this connection.

 

The High Commission in Ottawa and the Consulate General Office in Toronto have already taken action to raise our concerns with the Global Affairs Canada and Mayors in Toronto and Brampton as well as the Premier of Ontario and the Lt. Governor General of Ontario.

 

In addition, the High Commission and the Consulate General Office in Toronto are closely working with the Sri Lankan community organizations in Ottawa and Toronto in raising concerns with MPs and MPPs, through media and social media etc.

 

The High Commission and the Consulate General Office are continuously monitoring current developments in this regard in the Canadian political arena and will meet relevant MPs and MPPs to brief them about false charges of ‘genocide in Sri Lanka’.

 

The Sri Lanka High Commission requests the Sri Lankan community in Canada to share this information with other Sri Lankans and interested parties.

 

The High Commission wishes to ensure that it will continue its efforts to bring the attention of the Canadian authorities to this issue and clear Sri Lanka’s name from the false ‘genocide allegations’.

 

Cooperation of the Sri Lankan community in this connection would be much appreciated.

 

 

 

Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa

08th July 2019

 

 

AMBASSADOR OF KUWAIT TO SRI LANKA KHALAF BU DHHAIR CALLED ON THE NEW FOREIGN MINISTER PROF. G.L. PEIRIS

Ambassador of Kuwait Khalaf Bu Dhhair called on the new Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris on 24 August, 2021.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Dhhair extended greetings from the Foreign Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah and expressed the Government of Kuwait's willingness to enhance bilateral trade and economic relations with the Government of Sri Lanka. Furthermore, the Ambassador Dhhair said that the Government of Kuwait was looking forward to employing skilled workers from Sri Lanka in the health and energy sectors.

Responding to the remarks made by the Ambassador Dhhair, Foreign Minister Peiris expressed that the Government of Sri Lanka and the State of Kuwait enjoy extremely cordial relations and during his tenure, was looking forward to strengthening Sri Lanka's relations with the Gulf countries. Minister Peiris also conveyed the Sri Lankan Government's appreciation to the Emir of Kuwait for the donation granted by the Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society for the COVID – 19 emergency health sector requirements. The Minister Peiris also noted the valuable support extended by Kuwait to the Government to Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council and other multilateral forums.

Foreign Minister Peiris and the Ambassador Dhhair discussed the possibilities of further expanding the Trade and Investment ties between both countries into new areas such as energy, hotel and tourism and urban housing projects through a partnership between public and private sector institutions. They also noted that there were new areas of bilateral cooperation that are yet to be explored such as Tourism, Health and Energy sectors which would be mutually beneficial in strengthening the already existing cordial relations between the two countries.

Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage and senior officials of the Foreign Ministry also participated at the meeting.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

24 August, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/fm-sl-kuwait/)

   

The following article appeared on the Brampton Guardian on 5th July 2019

The following article appeared on the Brampton Guardian on 5th July 2019  in response to the comments made by His Worship Patrick Brown, Mayor of Brampton City Council in his interview to the article ‘Shoulder to shoulder’: Brampton mayor defends Tamil genocide remembrance proclamation’ on 12th June 2019.

Not a genocide

OPINION 04:00 AM Brampton Guardian

Friday Jul 5

 I write with reference to the article titled 'Shoulder to shoulder': Brampton mayor defends Tamil genocide remembrance proclamation by Graeme Frisque, published in the Brampton Guardian June 14, 2019.

The article does not reflect the position taken by the Sri Lanka High Commission and government of Sri Lanka.

Contrary to the assertions made by the mayor of Brampton, the government of Sri Lanka was engaged in a conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which is designated as a terrorist organization by Canada, the U.S., India, U.K., Sri Lanka and the EU, while Australia has listed the LTTE under their terrorist asset-freezing sanctions.

The action by the Sri Lankan security forces during the conflict, which ended in 2009, was against a group designated as a terrorist organization and not against any community. Now that terrorism has been defeated, all communities are working in unison toward reconciliation and economic progress.

The government of Sri Lanka has taken many measures which include promotion and protection of human rights; upholding the rule of law; strengthening good governance and democracy; fostering reconciliation and sustainable peace; and ensuring equitable and inclusive development, for the benefit of all citizens.

 

FOREIGN MINISTER HIGHLIGHTS PRIORITIES FOR ENHANCING SRI LANKA - KOREA RELATIONS IN MEETING WITH THE KOREAN AMBASSADOR

The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Sri Lanka Santhush Woonjin Jeong paid a courtesy call on the newly appointed Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris on Tuesday, 24 August, 2021 at the Foreign Ministry.

The Ambassador Woonjin extended sincere felicitations to the Foreign Minister on his new role and reiterated his country’s commitment to assist Sri Lanka in bilateral and multilateral settings on matters of mutual interest.

The discussions centered on a wide range of areas of existing and potential cooperation including education, science, information technology, digitalization, pharmaceutical production, labor migration, people-to-people exchanges and partnership in multilateral engagements. A particular emphasis was placed on the importance of development of Korean language education in Sri Lanka, enabling direct and effective exchanges between citizens, businesses and institutions between both countries.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister Peiris reiterated the significance of Sri Lanka-Korea bilateral relations which continue to be mutually beneficial with potential for further expansion and expressed appreciation for Ambassador Woonjin’s sentiments towards Sri Lanka and its people.

They agreed to explore further avenues for expanding trade and economic relations between the two countries which can be diversified into new development projects and investments.

Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage and senior officials of the Ministry participated in the meeting.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

24 August, 2021

(https://mfa.gov.lk/fm-sl-korea/)

   

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