Foreign Minister Ali Sabry has summoned the Canadian High Commissioner on Friday (16) to reiterate Sri Lanka’s strong objections, conveyed on several occasions previously, to the laying of the foundation stone for the construction of a Tamil Genocide Monument at Chinguacousy Park in Brampton, Canada on Wednesday (14).

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sabry stated that the Government of Sri Lanka categorically rejected the “outrageously false narrative, which is being perpetuated for vote bank politics within Canada”.

Minister Sabry noted that the ill-advised action by the Brampton City Council was offensive to all peace-loving people in Canada and Sri Lanka. 

According to the statement, the “so-called allegation of a genocide in Sri Lanka is a fabrication based on malicious disinformation and is not substantiated by any responsible authority, nationally or internationally”.

“The Government of Sri Lanka has consistently engaged in efforts to foster reconciliation and build lasting peace following the end of the conflict despite the economic crisis in the country for the last two years and such divisive action undermines those efforts by glorifying terrorism and sowing discord and mistrust which democratic countries, including Sri Lanka and Canada, cannot endorse,” the statement further noted.

The Foreign Minister requested the Government of Canada to “intervene and take action to prevent the construction of this monument in recognising the damaging impact of this narrative on bilateral relations and to take immediate action to prevent further harm”.