The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Ottawa and Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Toronto virtually held the first International Day of Remembrance and tribute to the victims of terrorism on 21 August, 2021 at 6.00 p.m.
The General Assembly, in its resolution 72/165 (2017), established 21 August as the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism in order to honor and support the victims and survivors of terrorism and to promote and protect the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The programme commenced with observing a minute of silence in memory of all victims of terrorism. The Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Canada Sithara Khan delivered the welcome address. The Consul General of Sri Lanka to Toronto Kapila Jayaweera also made an address.
The Member of Parliament for Don. Valley East Canada and the Chair of the Canada-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group Yasmin Ratansi address the event recalled her visits to Sri Lanka and to the Northern and Eastern Provinces and stated that “It was important to me to visit some of the places where young kids who were taken by the LTTE to fight for them and hear the horror stories that Tamils themselves were used as human shields by the LTTE ”.
The Keynote address was delivered by Sessional Professor in Sociology at the University of Toronto and McMaster University, former Civil Servant, Canadian Civil Service of the Federal Public Service and Professor of Social Work at the National Institute of Social Development (NISD) Sri Lanka Dr. Sarath Chandrasekara. In his address, Professor Chandrasekara defined ‘terrorism’ and genocide according to the UN definitions and also explained the countries which were vulnerable to terrorist attacks and how it had affected the social life of people in the world. He also referred to Sri Lanka’s experience and stated that the “LTTE forced people to contribute and Canada was a leading contributor in the amount of Canadian Dollars 280,000 per month which went for arms purchase. Tamil businesses in Canada were asked to pay 10% to 20% of their income or profit to the so called liberation war. Professor Chandrasekara also stated that the LTTE invaded public schools and recruited students, children to their cadre and also disabled women were used as suicide bombers.”
The event which was well attended was compered by Counsellor of the High Commission Lashinka Dammullage.
Sri Lanka High Commission
Ottawa
25 August, 2021
