Canadian HC says he didn’t endorse or declare Ottawa’s support for Himalayan Declaration

Apropos “Groundwork for Truth Unity and Reconciliation Commission underway,” published in February 14th issue of The Island and also carried online, the Canadian High Commission in Colombo has sent us the following response: The writer Shamindra Ferdinando reported that “In spite of the Canadian High Commissioner in Colombo Eric Walsh declaring Canadian support for the latest initiative (i.e. the Himalayan Declaration), Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Gary Anandasangaree condemned the GTF-CTC effort.” This is factually incorrect. High Commissioner Eric Walsh has neither endorsed the Himalayan Declaration nor has he declared Canadian support for it.

The writer’s note: That comment was based on an e-mail Velupillai Thangavelu, President of the Canadian branch of the Tamil National Alliance has sent to Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Gary Anandasangaree seeking an explanation regarding the failure on his part to condemn the recent attack on the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) office in Canada.