The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected a message by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on May 18, referring to a “genocide” during Sri Lanka’s war.
PM Trudeau, in a statement, noted that Canada’s Parliament unanimously voted to recognise May 18 as ‘Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day’.
“We will always advocate for justice and accountability for the crimes committed during the conflict, as well as for the hardships faced by all in Sri Lanka. In 2023, we imposed sanctions against four former Sri Lankan government officials in response to their violations of human rights in the country during the armed conflict,” Trudeau said in his statement.
Responding to the statement, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry said it rejects the false allegation of a so-called “genocide” in Sri Lanka by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The Ministry said the Government of Sri Lanka in all previous communications has categorically refuted such outrageous allegations of genocide in Sri Lanka.
“No competent authority in Canada or elsewhere in the world has made any objective determination of genocide having taken place in Sri Lanka. Canada’s falsification of our history amounts to irresponsible disinformation. It misleads the minds of current and future generations in Canada and elsewhere, encouraging and perpetuating hatred. It empowers extremism on all sides in all parts of the world where such messages are easily and instantaneously transmitted including through social media,” the Ministry said.
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry further pointed out that the repeated statements by the Prime Minister of Canada with regard to Sri Lanka are the outcome of electoral vote bank politics in Canada, funded by a small number of Canadians of Sri Lankan origin with vested and personal interest.
Stating that Sri Lanka categorically rejects the allegation of genocide, the Foreign Ministry urged the Canadian Government to assume responsibility in a spirit of mutual respect in promoting peace and harmony. (Newswire)
