The High Commissioner for Canada in Sri Lanka, Eric Walsh, visited Jaffna this week, where he met with Tamil politicians, visited the Jaffna library and attended a film screening organised by Jaffna Transgender Network.  

Walsh kicked off his tour by making an official visit to the renowned Jaffna Library on July 18th. During his visit, he had the opportunity to meet and engage in discussions with the Jaffna Municipal Council Commissioner R. T. Jeyaseelan and other staff members of the library.

Continuing his diplomatic engagements, the following day on July 19th, the High Commissioner held a meeting with Shritharan Sivagnanam, the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) Member of Parliament. The discussion focused on the ongoing political situation in the country.

MP Sivagnanam took to Twitter to share the highlights of their conversation. According to his tweet, the High Commissioner expressed gratitude for the ongoing efforts of ITAK's Mullaitivu chapter in strengthening the Canadian Parliament's unanimous decision to recognize May 18th as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. The MP also stated that their discussion extensively covered the ongoing struggle for the rights of Eelam Tamils in Sri Lanka, the full implementation of the 13th amendment to the constitution, and the need for meaningful devolution of power.

The High Commissioner emphasized the diverse federal systems of governance seen in countries like Canada, the United States, and Belgium. He highlighted Canada's vibrant multiculturalism, which is made possible through its federal system, suggesting it could serve as an example for Sri Lanka.

MP Sivagnanam also raised concerns about the occupation of land in the North-East, stating that despite power being handed over to respective Provincial Councils for land distribution and police appointments, approximately 80% of lands in the region are still occupied by various bodies, including the Forest Department, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Department of Sri Lanka Coast Guard, Survey Department, Mahaweli Authority, and the Department of Archeology.

In addition, the MP discussed the military occupation of up to 4,378 acres of land in the Kilinochchi District alone and highlighted the construction of 71 new Buddhist temples in the North-East.

The High Commissioner also met with former Northern Provincial Council member Thurairasa Ravikaran to discuss various pressing matters. Ravikaran expressed his gratitude for the Canadian Prime Minister's statement acknowledging the Tamil genocide, emphasising the significance of international recognition.

One of the key issues highlighted by Ravikaran was the ongoing excavation and exhumation process at the Kokkuthoduvai mass grave site. He raised concerns about the haphazard nature of the process and stressed the necessity for international expertise and oversight to ensure comprehensive investigations.

The conversation also touched upon the incident that occurred on July 14th at the Kurunthurmalai site. Raviharan described how Buddhist monks, accompanied by mobs, instigated a tense situation that obstructed Tamil worshippers from conducting the traditional pongal ceremony—an act intended to honour the Tamil heritage of the site. The situation further escalated when the police intervened forcefully, resulting in violence.

Recognising the importance of these issues, the High Commissioner assured Ravikaran that he would continue to closely monitor the developments and advocate for appropriate actions. The visit provided an opportunity for open dialogue and reaffirmed the commitment to address the concerns raised by the Tamil community.

Image courtesy of Jaffna Transgender Network

The High Commissioner also attended the screening of the film Venus organised by the Jaffna Transgender Network as part of their ongoing celebration of Pride month, with the support of the Canadian Government.