Author: TELO Admin

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has reaffirmed Canada’s recognition of the atrocities committed against Tamils in Sri Lanka as genocide, issuing an official statement marking Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day and honouring victims and survivors of the armed conflict.

In a statement released on 18 May, Carney said Canada joined “Tamil communities in Canada and around the world” in commemorating Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, whilst acknowledging the immense suffering endured by Tamils during the armed conflict in the Tamil homeland.

“The Sri Lankan civil war claimed tens of thousands of civilian lives over more than a quarter century,” the statement read.

“We honour the memory of those who lost their lives and stand with the survivors, families, and communities who endured profound suffering.”

Carney also highlighted the significant presence of the Tamil diaspora in Canada, noting that many Tamils had sought refuge in the country after fleeing violence and persecution in Sri Lanka.

“Canada is home to one of the largest Tamil diasporas in the world, including many who came here seeking refuge from violence and persecution,” he stated.

Referring to Canada’s parliamentary recognition of the Tamil genocide, Carney noted that in 2022 the Canadian Parliament unanimously voted to recognise 18 May as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day and formally acknowledged that the atrocities committed against Tamils in Sri Lanka constituted genocide.

“In 2022, Canada’s Parliament unanimously voted to recognise May 18 as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day and recognise the atrocities committed against Tamils in Sri Lanka as genocide – reflecting an important step in acknowledging this painful history.”

The Canadian Prime Minister further stated that Canada would continue supporting international efforts aimed at accountability, human rights and lasting peace on the island.

“Canada will continue to support international efforts to advance accountability, uphold human rights, and promote lasting peace for people of the Island,” he said.

The statement concluded with Canada reaffirming its commitment to justice and remembrance.

“We reaffirm our commitment to human dignity and justice, and to ensuring that such grave violations of human rights are never ignored or forgotten.”

The statement comes as Tamils across the homeland and diaspora marked the 17th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide, commemorating the tens of thousands of Tamil civilians massacred during the final stages of the Sri Lankan military offensive in 2009.

CHENNAI – Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday expressed solidarity with the global Tamil diaspora on the occasion of Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day, pledging his administration’s continued support for their rights.

In a social media post on ‘X’, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief wrote: “Let us hold the memories of Mullivaikkal in our hearts. We will always stand by the rights of our Tamil kindred living across the seas.”

May 18 is observed annually by Sri Lankan Tamils worldwide as Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day. On May 18, 2009, the nearly three-decade-long Sri Lankan Civil War came to a bloody conclusion in Mullivaikkal, a small coastal village in Mullaitivu district, following the death of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

According to United Nations estimates, between 40,000 and 70,000 Tamil civilians lost their lives in the final stages, transforming Mullivaikkal into a universal symbol of wartime atrocities and civilian suffering.

Seventeen years after the Mullivaikal genocide, the pain of our people remains as raw as the day the world watched in silence. The Tamil nation continues to carry the weight of an unhealed wound — a wound created not only by the brutality of the genocide, but by the global failure to deliver justice.

Today, as we remember the thousands of innocent Tamil civilians who were massacred, TELO reaffirms a truth that cannot be buried: Mullivaikal was genocide. It was a deliberate attempt to erase a people, a culture, and a national identity.

Yet even after 17 long years, the burning question of the Tamil nation remains unanswered. There is still no meaningful political solution. There is still no recognition of the genocide. There is still no accountability for the crimes committed.

This continued denial of justice is not just a failure of the past — it is an ongoing injustice. TELO stands firm in declaring that remembrance alone is not enough. Our struggle for truth, justice, and a dignified political settlement must continue with renewed determination.

As we mark the 17th year of Mullivaikal Remembrance, TELO calls upon the international community to uphold its moral responsibility. Justice delayed cannot become justice denied. The Tamil nation deserves recognition, accountability, and a political solution that reflects our collective aspirations and sacrifices.

ECONOMYNEXT – State-owned carrier SriLankan Airlines has been hit by two financial frauds in the United Arab Emirates and South India due to hacking of an agent’s email and forgery of documents, two sources and the Deputy Finance Minister said. The loss-making airline had remitted US$265,000 (974,000 UAE Dirham or around Rs.80 million) to a wrong account after receiving instructions via official email from an agent with its Dubai office to deposit the money in a different bank account, a source aware of the inquiry told EconomyNext. “The agent’s email was hacked and the hacker has used the agent’s email to ask SriLankan to deposit the money into a different account,” the source said. The second financial fraud was detected in the SriLankan office in Chennai, where three Indian nationals who had worked in the South Indian office swindled money worth 22,000 Indian rupees (around Rs. 80 million) using forged documents. “Now, the Indian police are probing this,” a second source said. The island nation has detected a number of similar financial frauds in the recent past including a US$2.5 million fraud from the Treasury through hacking and US$625,000 from the Postal Department. Deputy Finance Minister Anil Jayantha said probes are underway into both frauds. “If there is any leakage or any issue under our government everything will be investigated, the information will be provided and we will address this quickly,” Minister Jayantha told reporters when asked about the frauds. !The Dubai agent has sent information to Sri Lankan Airlines stating that the problem is with our system. However, they are investigating. We’ll see what has really happened,” he said. “Of course, that much money was paid by Sri Lankan Airline, not to the agent, but to someone else.” He said some “Indian Nationals” working in Chennai SriLnkan office Station as employees have forged some documents and “taken some money out”. “Both is investigated separately. First one is clearly connected to the agent, but the second one is in a way, we can say that the fraud was done by an employee.”

The Divisional Secretary of Dompe has filed a police complaint over the alleged unlawful occupation of a state-owned property in Malwana, Gampaha, by a group affiliated with the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF).

The complaint was lodged with the Dompe Police following an occupation that began on 14 May, when IUSF-affiliated activists entered and occupied a vacant house and land, demanding that the property be allocated for use by state universities.

A second complaint was filed on Friday by the New People’s Front, whose Deputy Leader Upatissa Kumaratunga told the media the students were being used as a political instrument by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.

He described the IUSF as a front for the JVP and urged students not to be deceived by a political agenda.

Kumaratunga also questioned the logic of the students’ demands, pointing out that two universities located near the site were more than 22 km away and suggested the property would be better preserved as a student hostel rather than being handed over to a university.

“This new Inter-University Students’ Federation is the cat’s paw of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. We would like to tell these student activists that if they do not understand student struggles, they should bring a bench and we will teach them. There are already two universities near this location. The University of Kelaniya is 24 kilometres away, while the Yakkala Ayurveda University is 22 kilometres away. How can these students demand that this property be handed over to a university? The university authorities should preserve it as a student hostel.

He further noted that the building had suffered significant flood damage during Cyclone Ditwah, with approximately 50 feet of the structure submerged, leaving only the upper floor above water.

Kumaratunga said he expected police to act swiftly, noting that complaints had now been received from both the Divisional Secretary and a political party, and expressed confidence that the students occupying the property illegally would be removed soon.

The Indian Ocean must not be turned into a theatre of major power rivalry, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong said, insisting it should instead serve as a platform for cooperation and shared benefit among nations.

“We consistently advocate that the ocean should not be an arena for major power contests, but a broad stage for mutual benefit and cooperation,” Qi said, adding that the Indian Ocean should evolve into “an ocean of peace, development, openness and cooperation.”

He emphasized that such a vision reflects the common interests of countries in the region and the wider international community, warning that opposing approaches would fail to gain support.

Addressing a forum on regional cooperation, the Ambassador highlighted the long-standing significance of the Indian Ocean as a conduit for global trade and cultural interaction since antiquity. He also pointed to the historical ties between China and Indian Ocean nations, noting a tradition of friendly exchanges.

Sri Lanka, he said, occupies a strategically critical position at the heart of the Indian Ocean, functioning as a key hub along east-west maritime routes. This positioning has enabled the island nation to play a distinct and increasingly influential role in fostering regional exchange and cooperation.

Reflecting on bilateral ties, the Ambassador said China-Sri Lanka maritime cooperation has delivered “fruitful results” in recent years under the strategic direction of both countries’ leaders. Cooperation has expanded across multiple sectors, including port construction, shipping logistics, maritime economic activity, and disaster prevention and mitigation, bringing tangible benefits to both populations.

However, he acknowledged that routine maritime scientific research conducted jointly by Chinese and Sri Lankan scientists had faced delays due to various disruptions.

“We hope and believe that the Sri Lankan government, in consideration of its own sovereignty, dignity and interests, will make the right decision at an early date,” he said, referring to the stalled research activities.

Qi noted that countries across the Indian Ocean region are largely focused on economic growth, improving public welfare, and enhancing connectivity. In that context, he reiterated China’s longstanding support for peace, stability, development, and prosperity in the region.

The Ambassador called for open and constructive engagement among participants, encouraging candid discussions and consensus-building during the forum.

“Vast seas allow fish to leap, and boundless skies allow birds to soar. The ocean grants us infinite possibilities,” he said, expressing hope that deliberations would contribute to strengthened China-Sri Lanka maritime cooperation and the overall peace and prosperity of the Indian Ocean region.