Author: TELO Admin

US Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC) and US Congressman Bill Johnson (OH) introduced a bipartisan Resolution today calling for a referendum for Eelam Tamils to be “democratically and equitably represented” as well as a “lasting peaceful political solution”.

The Resolution comes as the Tamil nation marks 14 years since the massacre at Mullivaikkal where Sri Lanka’s forces killed tens of thousands of Tamils in the final weeks of the armed conflict.

The Resolution points out the Sri Lankan military’s continuing occupation and oppression of the Tamil homeland. It points to the denial of freedom of expression implemented in 6th Amendment that prevents Tamils calling for their independence. It also quotes the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State in 2006 who advocated for Eelam Tamils’ rights in their traditional homeland “to rule their own destinies and to govern themselves in their homeland”.

The Resolution calls for the referral of Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court and recognises Eelam Tamils’ traditional homeland.

The Resolution further acknowledges that the 26 year long armed conflict led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Tamils, “disappearances, abuses and displacements” and noted Sri Lanka’s “impunity for human rights violations”.

Although 14 years have passed since the Tamil genocide in 2009, successive Sri Lankan governments have failed to hold the perpetrators accountable and instead promoted perpetrators to prominent political positions. Moreover, in 2020 Sri Lanka reneged on its commitments made to the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2015.

The resolution highlights that “no effort has been made to bring to justice those who are alleged to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, no investigations have begun even on emblematic cases, evidence gathering is hindered through arbitrary arrests and threats by the state[…]”.

The resolution resolves that the House of Representatives:

Acknowledges the 14th anniversary of the end of the war in Sri Lanka and offers its deepest condolences to all those affected by the conflict;

Honours the memory of those who died and reaffirms its solidarity with the people of all communities in Sri Lanka in their search for reconciliation, reconstruction, reparation and reform;

Commends the UNHRC for prioritising the collection and preservation of evidence related to human rights violations, a process that must not be interfered with by the Government of Sri Lanka;

Recognises the bravery and commitments of advocates for justice across all communities in Sri Lanka, including the Tamil families of the disappeared, whose protests and demands for answers have at times been met with threats, intimidation, and harassment by government security forces;

Urges the international community to advocate for and protect the political rights and representation of the historically oppressed northeastern region of Sri Lanka and work towards a permanent political solution to address the underlying issues that led to ethnic conflict and ensure nonrecurrence of violence;

Encourages the promotion of universally accepted democratic principles and systems on the island of Sri Lanka, including through the use of the referendum process to ensure that peoples of all ethnicities, including the Eelam Tamil people, are democratically and equitably represented on the island;

Recommends the US explore investigations and prosecutions pursuant to the recommendations of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights;

Urges the US to work with the UN General Assembly, the UN Security Council, and the UNHRC to establish a credible and effective international mechanism for accountability for the grave crimes committed during the war in Sri Lanka; and

Encourages the Secretary of State to leverage the US position on the UN Security Council to pursue a referral of Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court, as outlined in the February 2021 report on Sri Lanka from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, which describes “the referral of the situation in Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court” as one option to “advance criminal accountability and provide measures of redress for victims”.

Sri Lanka and Uttar Pradesh resolve to further strengthen tourism, cultural and religious exchanges and people-to-people contacts

Sri Lanka and Uttar Pradesh of India resolved to further strengthen the cooperation in the fields of tourism, culture, religion and people-to-people contacts when the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda met with the Chief Minister of the State Shri Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow.

This was the second meeting that High Commissioner Moragoda had with the Chief Minister of the most populous State in India since the former took office in New Delhi in 2021.

The Chief Minister extended a warm welcome to High Commissioner Moragoda and his delegation. The discussion that followed centred around the ancient and strong cultural and religious affinities between Uttar Pradesh and Sri Lanka and the ways to further strengthening them through tourism as well as religious and cultural exchanges. Following from the discussions between the High Commissioner and the Chief Minister in October 2021 when they last met, the importance of promoting the Ramayana Trail in Sri Lanka and the Buddhist Trail in Uttar Pradesh through a formal framework was discussed.

Symbolizing the close relations between Buddhism and Hinduism as well as Uttar Pradesh and Sri Lanka, High Commissioner Moragoda proposed to plant a Bo sapling from Rumassala in Ayodhya, which is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Rama. Rumassala is a prominent Ramayana site in Sri Lanka.

On this occasion, two large photographs of Sri Lankan origin were presented to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh to be installed at the Varanasi International Airport, marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Indo-Lanka diplomatic relations, which falls this year. The photographs feature two murals painted by the eminent Sri Lankan painter Solias Mendis in the Kelaniya Rajamaha Vihara, depicting Arahat Mahinda, delivering the message of the Buddha to King Devanampiyatissa upon arriving in Sri Lanka, and the arrival to Sri Lanka of Theri Sanghamitta, bearing the right-hand branch sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi tree.

Similar photographs have been installed at the Kushinagar International Airport, Ahmedabad International Airport, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Headquarters in Nagpur and office of the State Minister of External Affairs and Culture at the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi. As part of an ongoing programme to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Indo-Lanka diplomatic relations, action has been initiated to install similar photographs at Buddha Gaya International Airport as well.

High Commissioner Moragoda also presented to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a stone obtained from the stream flowing besides the Seetha Amman Temple in Seetha Eliya (Ashoka Vatika) in Sri Lanka, which is believed to be the site where Seetha was held captive according to the Ramayana. The Chief Minister thanked the High Commissioner for this religiously significant memento, and also recalled how the latter presented a large Shila from the same premises to the Ram Mandir construction project in Ayodhya in October 2021.

Bhikkhu-in-charge of the Sarnath Centre of the Mahabodhi Society of India in Varanasi Ven. R. Sumiththananda Thero, and senior officials of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi were also present on this occasion.

Hot on the heels of the 14th anniversary of the war victory,Sri Lanka is heading for a diplomatic battle with Canada once again after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a statement yesterday in recognition of what is called ‘Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, the day when the war ended in Sri Lanka 14 years ago .

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said Sri Lanka denounces the statement which he cited unhelpful to the reconciliation process locally .

The Canadian leader in his statement said, “Today, we reflect on the tragic loss of life during the armed conflict in Sri Lanka, which ended 14 years ago. Tens of thousands of Tamils lost their lives, including at the massacre in Mullivaikal, with many more missing; injured, or displaced. Our thoughts are with the victims, survivors, and their loved ones, who continue to live with the pain caused by this senseless violence.

The stories of Tamil-Canadians affected by the conflict – including many I have met over the years in communities across the country – serve as an enduring reminder that human rights, peace, and democracy cannot be taken for granted. That’s why Parliament last year unanimously adopted the motion to make May18 Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. Canada will not stop advocating for the rights of the victims and survivors of this conflict, as well as for all in Sri Lanka who continue to face hardship.

In October 2022, we joined our international partners in adopting an United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution that calls on the Sri Lankan government to address the human rights, economic, and political crises in the country. Canada has been a global leader in the adoption of other UNHRC resolutions calling for freedom of religion, belief, and pluralism in Sri Lanka – essential elements to secure peace and reconciliation in the years to com – and we will continue our work to safeguard human rights across the world. And in January 2023, our government imposed sanctions against four Sri Lankan government officials in response to human rights violations on the island.

On behalf of the Government of Canada, I invite all Canadians to recognize the many contributions that Tamil-Canadians have made – and continue to make – to our country. I also encourage everyone to learn more about the impact of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka, and express solidarity to all those who suffered or lost loved ones,”

The Global Affairs Ministry of Canada had informed in advance to the Sri Lankan authorities about the statement to be made . Daily Mirror learns that the Sri Lankan authorities requested for recognition of local reconciliation efforts , but it had not been acceded to by the Canadian authorities.

Canada’s Ontario province has declared the Tamil genocide week despite protests by the Sri Lankan government

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remembered the Tamil victims of the war in Sri Lanka.

Issuing a statement to mark Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, Trudeau said that Canada will not stop advocating for the rights of the victims and survivors of the conflict.

“Today, we reflect on the tragic loss of life during the armed conflict in Sri Lanka, which ended 14 years ago. Tens of thousands of Tamils lost their lives, including at the massacre in Mullivaikal, with many more missing, injured, or displaced. Our thoughts are with the victims, survivors, and their loved ones, who continue to live with the pain caused by this senseless violence,” Trudeau said in a statement.

He said that the stories of Tamil-Canadians affected by the conflict – including many he has met over the years in communities across the country, serve as an enduring reminder that human rights, peace, and democracy cannot be taken for granted.

“That’s why Parliament last year unanimously adopted the motion to make May 18 Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. Canada will not stop advocating for the rights of the victims and survivors of this conflict, as well as for all in Sri Lanka who continue to face hardship,” he said.

Trudeau recalled that in October 2022, Canada joined its international partners in adopting a United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution that called on the Sri Lankan Government to address the human rights, economic, and political crises in the country.

“Canada has been a global leader in the adoption of other UNHRC resolutions calling for freedom of religion, belief, and pluralism in Sri Lanka – essential elements to secure peace and reconciliation in the years to come – and we will continue our work to safeguard human rights across the world. And in January 2023, our government imposed sanctions against four Sri Lankan government officials in response to human rights violations on the island,” he said.

On behalf of the Government of Canada, Trudeau invited all Canadians to recognize the many contributions that Tamil-Canadians have made – and continue to make – to Canada.

He also encouraged everyone to learn more about the impact of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka, and express solidarity to all those who suffered or lost loved ones.

The riot Police have been deployed in Colombo as attempts have been made to disrupt an event organized to commemorate the Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day.

The Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day is a remembrance day observed to remember those who died in the final stages of the Sri Lankan Civil War.

A commemoration event had been organized in Borella, Colombo today during which a group of persons were seen protesting holding banners with slogans stating ‘No to LTTE commemorations’.

As a result of the protests, the riot Police have been deployed near the Borella Roundabout to contain the situation.

Police and Ravana Balaya disrupted the Mullivaikkal memorial event at Borella Cemetery roundabout this morning. The state is so afraid of its citizens memorialising the dead that they (the state) are responsible for. #lka #RememberMay2009 #Mullivaikkal #18May pic.twitter.com/aPC5xYuvWX

— Sarah Kellapatha (@saararrr) May 18, 2023