Prof. Peiris takes up ‘Genocide Bill’ against Sri Lanka with Canadian HC

Canadian High Commissioner David McKinnon has told Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris that the Foreign Ministry here would be informed of the developments relating to the passage of a Private Member’s Bill 104 on ‘Tamil Genocide Education Week’.

The FM in a statement issued yesterday (7) quoted McKinnon as having told Prof. Peiris that the decision taken by the Ontario Legislative Assembly, is in a judicial process relating to a Constitutional Question.

Prof. Peiris raised the issue when the Canadian HC paid him a courtesy call. Canada represents Sri Lanka Core Group in Geneva and was responsible for the latest resolution adopted by the Geneva based UNHRC.

The Minister reiterated Sri Lanka’s strong concern regarding the Private Member’s Public Bill passed earlier this year in the Ontario Legislative Assembly including Sri Lanka’s objection to the unacceptable association of genocide in relation to the past conflict in Sri Lanka .

The Minister noted that this Act is being challenged in the Ontario Superior Court. As highlighted in his address to the UN Human Rights Council, Sri Lanka is continuing its efforts to achieve reconciliation among the communities following decades of terrorist conflict. The Minister also recalled that the LTTE is a proscribed terrorist organization in Canada.

The Minister updated the High Commissioner on progress related to Sri Lanka’s vaccination programme and the gradual opening up of the country. The Minister appreciated Canada’s contribution to Sri Lanka’s process of recovery from the pandemic. Sri Lanka continues to seek vaccine availability from all available sources.

The High Commissioner briefed the Minister on post- Covid recovery in Canada and economic collaboration between Sri Lanka and Canada, as well as other issues of mutual interest.

The Minister also updated the High Commissioner on his address to the UN Human Rights Council and on progress on matters related to human rights and the recent steps taken domestically. The High Commissioner thanked the Minister for the update and encouraged Sri Lanka to make progress on the matters raised by the Council.

Recently, international media exposed Canada to its own genocidal past when hundreds of unmarked graves were discovered in Catholic Church run schools there where generations of native children were kept after forcefully separating them from their families. The practice existed into 1990s.So far nearly 1,000 such graves have been found, according to these reports.