Letter to the Toronto School Board by Anjana Bandara

14th May 2019

Dear Sirs/ Madames:

I write to you on behalf of Sri Lankan residents and Sri Lankan parents whose children attend schools with  Toronto District School Board (TDSB) to direct your attention to the following email  (Email) that has been originated by  TDSB.

Review of the Email indicates that TDSB as an organization is approving and condoning the information disseminated in the seminar as it is evident that TDSB is encouraging the students and staff to attend the event.

I trust you are aware that, being educators yourselves and/or as responsible office holders for a field that holds accountability of shaping future generations and young minds, that information you disseminate should be true and correct.

If you or your agents take responsibility in promoting a certain event or segment of information ,it is your paramount responsibility to verify the accuracy of information or the reliability of the message the event is proposing to promote.

I trust you all, being affiliated with the field of education, are aware of the definition genocide. I have attached the Guidance note provided by UN (United Nations) for your ease of reference and further review and strictly direct your attention to implications outlined in the note associated with arbitrary use of  the term genocide.

Genocide Convention provides the guidelines for establishing genocide and as per the convention the only authority  that is able to make a finding of genocide is UN or the International Court of Justice. I have attached the Guidance note provided by UN (United Nations) for your ease of reference and further review.

“Article VIII

Any Contracting Party may call upon the competent organs of the United Nations to take such action under the Charter of the United Nations as they consider appropriate for the prevention and suppression of acts of genocide or any of the other acts enumerated in article III.

Article IX

Disputes between the Contracting Parties relating to the interpretation, application or fulfilment of the present Convention, including those relating to the responsibility of a State for genocide or for any of the other acts enumerated in article III, shall be submitted to the International Court of Justice at the request of any of the parties to the dispute.”

There has been no finding of genocide in Sri Lanka.  The issue is controversial and falls clearly with in political propaganda initiated by certain factions  to achieve political goals.

Sri Lankan community  has provided its formal objections on the issue to the municipalities and the provincial government. I have attached the above materials to allow you to get a full  sense of the controversial nature of the matter.

You as educators are disseminating false and unsubstantiated information  with little thought to accountability of your actions.  It is irresponsible and discriminatory towards thousands of Sri Lankan parents whose children are attending your schools. It is a breach of trust the parents have placed in you to educate their children responsibly and not fall prey to factions who attempt to promote their political agendas.

We request that TDSB withdraw sponsorship of the matter . Please note that TDSB shall be held accountable for promoting unsubstantiated and partisan information without proper verification  if TDSB proceeds with their support for this seminar and the matter will be escalated to seek redress through all available channels.

Your Truly

Anjana Bandara

Barrister & Solicitor

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