Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and Opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre have issued statements commemorating Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day.
"Today we honour victims, survivors, and their loved ones" - Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau’s statement reads,
"Fifteen years ago, the quarter-century-long armed conflict in Sri Lanka came to an end. Tens of thousands of Tamils tragically lost their lives, including at the massacre in Mullivaikal. To this day, many more remain missing, injured, or displaced. Today, we honour the victims, survivors, and their loved ones, who live with the lasting pain caused by this senseless violence.”
“Two years ago, Canada’s Parliament unanimously voted to recognize 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."
The Canadian Prime Minister also emphasized Canada’s commitment to defending human rights in Sri Lanka.
As a part of this commitment, Trudeau states that Canada is working with international partners to see the full implementation of the October 2022 United Nations Human Rights Council resolution which calls for greater justice and accountability in Sri Lanka.
"Despite their unimaginable suffering, Canadians of Tamil descent have relentlessly pursued justice for their loved ones" - Pierre Poilievre
In a video statement, Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre commemorated the Tamil Genocide.
Poilievre says that the Conservative party grieves the loss of Tamil life in a campaign of genocide and anti-Tamil pogroms.
The opposition leader promised that if elected his government will "continue to call for the release of political prisoners in Sri Lanka and demand that the Rajapaksas answer for the genocide they perpetrated."
