Sri Lanka opposes Ontario’s Bill 104 on Tamil Genocide Education
COLOMBO – Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on Monday (10) conveyed Sri Lanka’s concerns to Canada about Bill 104 on ‘Tamil Genocide Education Week’ passed by the Ontario Legislative Assembly and sought the immediate intervention of the Canadian government to stop Royal Assent by the Lt. Governor of Ontario. The Private Member Bill 104 on ‘Tamil Genocide Education Week’ was passed by the Ontario Legislative Assembly on Thursday (6).
Gunawardena, who met with met with the Canadian High Commissioner David McKinnon at the Foreign Ministry on Monday, told the envoy that the Ontario Legislative Assembly’s acceptance that ‘genocide’ has taken place in Sri Lanka contradicts the official position of the Government of Canada, which had confirmed it has not made a finding that there was genocide in Sri Lanka.
Joining the meeting, Foreign Secretary Admiral (Prof.) Jayanath Colombage elaborated on the potential harm the Bill 104 could cause to the reconciliation process, peace building and the bilateral relations at large.
The foreign minister, while thanking the Canadian Government for the continuous support extended to Sri Lanka on multiple fronts, also discussed with the High Commissioner on a wide range of bilateral issues.
-ENCL