Shocking disclosures by Canadian Sri Lankan youth of Sinhalese background on violence and discriminatory action by Tamil extremists

It is with great regret that we share with you the news of 20 impact statements by Canadian Sri Lankan youth in Toronto. Please refer to their Instagram page to view the videos:
https://www.instagram.com/lankansunited

Many questions are being raised on why this has happened and what the community has done all these years? More questions have been asked on why the community knowing these occurrences and had kept quiet. Something has to be done and this is the time!

A number parents of Canadian born students, who had originated from Sri Lanka or were born to parents of Sri Lankan origin, have come forward with their very distressing experiences of racial discrimination, violence and bullying due to disruption of social harmony due to various groups using the alleged “Tamil Genocide” to incite violence on Sinhalese students.

Premier Ford along with the Cabinet mentioned “Every student – irrespective of the colour of their skin, socio-economic status, heritage, or orientation – deserves every opportunity to achieve their full potential.” It is with regret that we are highlighting that the divisive politics of members within the cabinet of the Ford Government and some NDP candidates. Also some Tamil Board trustees at Peel District School Board, Toronto District School Board and York District School Board have come forward with alleged Tamil Genocide proclamations or statements. Statement shared by them reinforced a false claim of genocide which was never declared by United Nations, yet politicians discounted all other lives lost during a 25 year civil armed conflict between all Sri Lankans against the terrorist group LTTE (banned by Canada in 2006). It was not just the Tamils who had lost lives, but all ethnicities i.e. Sinhalese, Tamils,Muslims and Burghurs. These divisive statements are renewing and cultivating hate and division among Sri Lankan descent families, of a war that ended 11 years, back in Sri Lanka.

We will be reaching out to the relevant authorities to avoid any and all steps necessary to correct misinformation, to stop actions of that disrupt community unity or any action that brings tension to the social harmony of the community for hidden political agendas. Immediate action is needed to put a stop for any
future occurrences of anti-Sri Lankan racial discrimination on Canadian soil. We requests that you also reach out to your MPP!
Our request is that political organisations and school boards to continue to function as a fair and equitable way, not taking sides and reinforcing divisions among Sri Lankan descents, not promoting alien propaganda, not getting involved with political issues that will negatively impact a part of the student body. We have a responsibility to be inclusive of ALL children. No child should have to defend themselves in social media, and/or eventually in school playgrounds and community settings as a result of discriminatory posts on social media. Let us reinforce and make Canada what is supposed to be “a safe environment for all children and allow all our children to come to school without fear for their safety”. These hate filled and divisive campaigns/posts has impacted the mental well-being of many non-Tamil youth and their family bringing back trauma of the war, bombing and LTTE terrorist attacks, that these families may have experienced firsthand.

We speak for a large number of parents in Ontario, when we say that, the last thing we expected from elected officials are to promote hatred and relive the trauma that parents and children are all fighting hard to leave behind. When most of the world is coming together against racism, some political elements within the community with ulterior motives are taking different stances and are promoting racism and division among and within the Sri Lanka community. Just as we stand up against anti-Black racism, help us stand against dividing and discriminating Sri Lankan descent children too. No child must go through incidents such as these here in Canada. We trust the relevant authorities take necessary steps to look out for physical and mental well-being of all children including all Sri Lankan descent children as well.

As a community we request elected representatives to exercise responsibility to maintain social harmony in the community, province and in Canada. We also request that you please stay away from divisive politics.

If you have any questions or comments about this submission, please email: speakup@srilankancanadian.ca