Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Vijitha Herath, has issued a stark warning that legal action will be taken against those that refer to the state’s atrocities against Tamils as genocide.
The remarks came during an interview broadcast this week, in which the minister responded to mounting international recognition of the Tamil genocide, including from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Herath categorically rejected international accusations of genocide, stating, “We absolutely do not accept that a genocide took place in our country".
“Genocide means that our tri-forces went in search of Tamil people and killed them,” he claimed. “No such thing like this ever happened”.
He added, in his view, "civilians were protected at all times" during the final stages of the armed conflict, despite widespread and well-documented evidence to the contrary.
“There were innocent mothers carrying their children, elderly mothers, elderly fathers who crossed the lagoon and they were saved by our tri- forces,” continued Herath. “They have never carried out a massacre anywhere.”
“No country has ever proven or accused anyone of this with evidence,” reiterated Herath.
His remarks echo the same narrative from previous Sri Lankan regimes, including that of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who oversaw the genocide as Sri Lankan president in 2009. This week Rajapaksa called the Sri Lankan army “the world’s must human military” and claimed that troops “rescued” Tamils. As many as 167,769 were killed in that final offensive, which was littered with well documented massacres. Not a single military or political figure has ever faced justice for it.
Herath’s comments follow official recognition from Canada, with Prime Minister Carney marking May 18 as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. Carney’s statement also included a call for international accountability, a demand also made by Tamil victims, human rights organisations and diaspora groups across the world.
Sri Lanka’s foreign minister, however, dismissed the Canadian move as a “wrongdoing” and criticised Canada for allowing a Tamil genocide monument to be constructed in Brampton.
While admitting that Sri Lanka cannot interfere in Canadian domestic affairs, Herath maintained that his government would continue to oppose international recognitions of the genocide. “Not only I, but foreign ministers before me and the previous government also opposed this,” he continued.
“But we are going on to maintain that what they have done is wrong and we are trying to stop it.”
The minister however seemed to confuse various Canadian initiatives that have taken place over the years, including the Canadian Parliament’s recognition of May 18 as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, Ontario’s Tamil Genocide Education Week Act, and the newly constructed Tamil Genocide Monument.
The Tamil Genocide Monument in Brampton, Canada.
Herath claimed that a “Sri Lankan organistion” took the parliamentary recognition of May 18 as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day to court, when several Sinhala groups had actually challenged the Tamil Genocide Education Week Act. The challenge was struck down Canada’s Supreme Court.
“Our country also opposed it but the Canadian courts approved this and the naming of the Remembrance Day went ahead,” he said. “The Sri Lankan government continued to oppose it, but the Canadian government ignored us because it is their country.”
When questioned about Carney’s recognition of May 18 as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, Herath also mentioned that “not only Sri Lanka, but other countries such as Ukraine, also opposed this”.
However, there has been no official remark from Ukraine over the matter.
When asked about commemorations on the island, including the events held across the North-East this May to mark 16 years since the massacre at Mullivaikkal, Herath doubled down.
Commemorations in Mullivaikkal on May 18, 2025. The banner reads "Tamil Genocide Remembrance".
“There is a gazette that prohibits the use of the name of the LTTE, its logo and the flag cannot be used,” he said. “It cannot be used to endorse or support it. The law will be implemented in places where such things are used.”
“In addition to this, the word “genocide”, which I previously explained did not happen, but action will be taken where the word is misused.”
Though he conceded that people have a general right to mourn loved ones, Herath made it clear that those using the term “genocide” in public commemorations risk legal repercussions. “Yes, when things like that happen we use the law and take action,” he said.
When pressed on whether action would be taken against Tamil academics, professors, and students who had commemorated Mullivaikkal this year, including at the University of Jaffna, Herath replied ominously “In future, it will happen.”
His remarks follow years of surveillance and harassment of Tamils who commemorated the Mullivaikkal genocide across the North-East. Despite this climate of intimidation, thousands participated in memorials throughout the Tamil homeland and diaspora. From the University of Jaffna to gatherings in Mannar, Mullaitivu, and Batticaloa, Tamils lit flames, recited prayers, and reaffirmed their demands for justice and recognition.
Herath’s threat to criminalise the use of the word “genocide” highlights the Sri Lankan state’s continued refusal to acknowledge the mass atrocities committed during the final stages of the armed conflict.
The government’s stance stands in stark contrast to growing global recognition of those crimes, including from parliamentarians across the UK, Canada, Australia, and Europe, who have publicly referred to the events of 2009 as genocide.
See the full transcript of the interview below.
Interviewer:
Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has issued an official statement declaring today as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. He is also demanding for international accountability. What is the government’s response to this matter?
Vijitha Herath:
The first thing is that we absolutely do not accept that a genocide took place in our country. Genocide means that our tri-forces went in search of Tamil people and killed them. No such thing like this ever happened. Civilians were protected at all times. Even during the last Nandikadal operation, the LTTE took people into custody to use as human shields. These people dove into the lagoon, risking their lives. There were innocent mothers carrying their children, elderly mothers, elderly fathers who crossed the lagoon and they were saved by our tri- forces. They have never carried out a massacre anywhere. No country has ever proven or accused anyone of this with evidence. Therefore, not only to Canada, but to any other country in the world, our stance is clear
In Canada, in the municipality of Brampton, the mayor initiated this project. Actually, it did not start today or yesterday but in 2021. There were two organizations that put forward a proposal to the municipal council for this project. The municipal council passed the proposals, and then allocated a separate piece of land for the project, with the full support of the mayor.
Last August, they placed the stone for the foundation and this was done before the new government came into power. There was a Sri Lankan organization that opposed the naming of this genocide remembrance day and the matter went to court, but the case was dismissed, and the Canadian courts accepted it.
Our country also opposed it but the Canadian courts approved this and the naming of the Remembrance Day went ahead. The Sri Lankan government continued to oppose it, but the Canadian government ignored us because it is their country. They said that we, as an external country, was trying to interfere into Canadian internal affairs. This is the problem and we are not going to accept it.
Interviewer:
This is coming from a world leader
Vijitha Herath:
Yes, there is a limit to which we can get involved and accept this wrongdoing. Not only I, but foreign ministers before me and the previous government also opposed this. But according to the laws of that country, Canada said this was a matter of freedom of speech.
Not only Sri Lanka, but other countries such as Ukraine, also opposed this. But we are going on to maintain that what they have done is wrong and we are trying to stop it.
Interviewer:
What you are saying is clear. We cannot intervene to prevent this genocide commemoration from taking place in Canada. However, in Sri Lanka, memorials are still held today with boards and signage that say, "Memorial of the Tamil Genocide". Even yesterday, there was a commemoration ceremony held in Mullivaikkal and there were posters stating it was Remembrance Day for the killing of Tamil people.
It should be said that we cannot take away the right of anyone to commemorate their son, daughter, husband, or father. But while we as a country officially maintain that we did not commit genocide, is the government not enforcing the law against those who use such signs and placards?
Vijitha Herath:
Definitely. There is a gazette that prohibits the use of the name of the LTTE, its logo and the flag cannot be used. It cannot be used to endorse or support it. The law will be implemented in places where such things are used. In addition to this, the word “genocide”, which I previously explained did not happen, but action will be taken where the word is misused.
Apart from this, truly, anyone, any citizen, any Sri Lankan who has someone who was killed for no reason, such as their relative, their brother, their family or their friend, has the freedom to commemorate him or her. Now, yesterday, there was a commemoration in Mullivaikkal. No symbols or logos or anything like that were used there.
Interviewer:
The commemoration was for the killing of Tamil people but there was never ever any killing of Tamil people by the armed forces in Sri Lanka?
Vijitha Herath:
Yes, that is what I said earlier, the law will be implemented in such cases.
Interviewer:
Yesterday, did anything happen? There are academics, professors and people from University of Jaffna who organized events and gave speeches on the occasion. Was any action taken against them?
Vijitha Herath:
In future, it will happen.
