Sri Lanka’s foreign minister has expressed the country’s objection to the construction of a Tamil genocide monument in Canada at a meeting with High Commissioner Eric Walsh.
“The strong objections of the GoSL to the unfounded genocide allegations and the approval for constructing such a monument, was conveyed to the Canadian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka today, at the Foreign Ministry,” foreign minister Vijitha Herath said.
“Such actions would hinder and complicate the government’s ongoing efforts to promote national unity, reconciliation, and lasting peace among Sri Lanka’s diverse communities.”
Former minister M U M Ali Sabry also criticized the monument.
“The truth is, all communities suffered in this conflict. The Tamils bore unimaginable hardship, both from the war that raged through their lands and from appalling riots like in 1983.
“The Muslims and Sinhalese too suffered displacement and loss.
“But to falsely label Sri Lanka with the gravest of crimes, genocide, is not just wrong, it is divisive, dangerous, and deeply irresponsible.”
The Canadian government should know better, he said, but are blinded by vote-bank politics which threatens reconciliation.
“We must stand for truth, for all communities, and for a future rooted not in falsehood and foreign posturing, but in justice, unity, and dignity for every Sri Lankan.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ full statement is reproduced below:
Government 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.