Canadian MP Rathika Sitsabaiesan has stated that she was subjected to “political intimidation”, and warned she could be arrested and deported, whilst visiting Jaffna earlier this week.

In a statement released on the New Democrat Party website, Sitsabaiesan said,

“I recently arrived in Sri Lanka to visit my extended family and visit the places that were once home for me, during the earlier stages of my life and the civil war in Sri Lanka; but was subject to political intimidation”.

Sitsabaiesan went on to refer to the Australian senator Lee Rhiannon and New Zealand MP Jan Logie who were detained by Sri Lankan authorities after visiting the Tamil North-East of the island, stating,

“I was warned I could be subject to arrest and deportation, as several commonwealth MPs from New Zealand and Australia recently faced”.  

Earlier reports had emerged that the Canadian MP was being held under a house arrest, prompting messages of concern from Canadian politicians and the Canadian High Commissioner in Colombo to press the case with Sri Lanka. Sitsabaiesan visited the militarised zone in Valikaamam North and the Sababathipillai ICP camp, before meeting informally with the Provincial Councillor Ananthi Sasitharan, and the TNA MP Sreetharan in Kilinochchi.

The statement went on to add,

“For New Democrats, standing in solidarity with Canadians of Tamil heritage on matters of human rights is part of our shared values as Canadians.”

“New Democrats, like millions of Canadians, will continue to staunchly defend human rights and freedom of speech, in Canada and around the world.”

The statement has been reproduced in full below:

For New Democrats, standing in solidarity with Canadians of Tamil heritage on matters of human rights is part of our shared values as Canadians.

I recently arrived in Sri Lanka to visit my extended family and visit the places that were once home for me, during the earlier stages of my life and the civil war in Sri Lanka; but was subject to political intimidation. I was warned I could be subject to arrest and deportation, as several commonwealth MPs from New Zealand and Australia recently faced.

I have received word from the Canadian High Commission in Colombo that the Sri Lankan authorities have confirmed that their previous claims of an arrest warrant in my name does not exist and I now look forward to exploring and learning more about the country of my birth.

My experiences since arriving in Sri Lanka are a reminder that defending principles of human rights is not easy, but I continue to believe that it is only through open dialogue and freedom of expression that people can ultimately achieve healing and reconciliation.

New Democrats, like millions of Canadians, will continue to staunchly defend human rights and freedom of speech, in Canada and around the world.