– Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa has called for immediate diplomatic action by the Sri Lankan government following the inauguration of a Tamil Genocide Memorial in Canada.
Rajapaksa strongly condemned the move, urging the government to summon the Canadian High Commissioner to formally protest and demand that Canada support accurate historical narratives regarding Sri Lanka’s conflict with the LTTE.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Rajapaksa expressed deep concern about the political motives behind the memorial’s inauguration.
He criticized Canada for promoting what he called a “false genocide narrative” against the Sri Lankan military, stressing that no genocide has been proven or can be proven in relation to Sri Lanka’s military operations during the final stages of the civil war.
“It is concerning that Canada has inaugurated a Tamil Genocide Memorial when under international law no genocide has been proven or can be proven against the Sri Lankan military in its conflict with the LTTE terrorists,” Rajapaksa said.
The MP accused the Canadian government of being influenced by factions within the Tamil diaspora, who he claims have long sought to divide and distort the historical narrative for political reasons. Rajapaksa warned that such actions could hinder the ongoing efforts for reconciliation and unity within Sri Lanka.
“The so-called Tamil genocide monument appears to be a politically driven move by the Canadian government, which has long been influenced by certain factions within the Tamil diaspora,” he remarked. “Rather than working towards peace and unity, these groups have fueled division for their own interests.”
Rajapaksa further reminded the public of the violent history of the LTTE, which began its campaign of terror with the assassination of Jaffna Mayor Alfred Duraiappah in 1975. He argued that the Sri Lankan military’s actions were part of a legitimate operation aimed at eliminating the LTTE, which had subjected both Tamil and Sinhala communities to years of violence.
He also raised concerns over Canada’s past support for groups linked to terrorism, including both LTTE sympathizers and Khalistan militants, suggesting that this undermines Canada’s credibility on global issues of peace and security.
“The LTTE carried out numerous brutal acts, including forcibly recruiting Tamil children into its ranks. The Sri Lankan armed forces eliminated the LTTE in a legitimate military operation,” Rajapaksa said. “Canada’s history of supporting groups linked to terrorism raises serious questions about its stance on global terrorism.”
