Canadian Tamil Congress Congratulates Maithripala Sirisen

For Immediate Release

January 9th, 2015.

Canadian Tamil Congress Congratulates Maithripala Sirisena

TORONTO, CANADA – The Canadian Tamil Congress congratulates Mithripala Sirisena on his election as the new President of Sri Lanka, in a closely fought race. Mr. Sirisena’s election marks the end of a decade-long dynastic dictatorship of the Rajapakse family, and hails the possibility and hope for a new democratic era. ‘ Tamil people in Sri Lanka, guided by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), have voted en masse in hopes of a new beginning. After years of suffering inflicted by the current government and despite various acts of intimidation, thousands of voters took to the polls, symbolizing much needed hope for change.

In the wake of this new beginning, CTC calls upon Mr. Sirisena to accommodate the aspirations of all communities in Sri Lanka, so there can be real peace and harmony in the entire country. We ask the new President to work with the democratically elected Tamil leadership to resolve the immediate problems of the Tamil peoples, and to find a lasting solution where all citizens of the island are treated with respect and equality.

The aspirations of Sri Lanka’s diverse peoples to meaningfully access state power must be facilitated. Sri Lanka’s justice system is in desperate need of restoration and in this regard, we particularly call upon Mr. Sirisena to abolish the Executive Presidency, repeal the Eighteenth Amendment, restore independent commissions and guarantee primacy to the rule of law. In order to ensure that this change in leadership has any meaningful results for the Tamil people of Sri Lanka, CTC remains hopeful that restrictions on freedom of expression, free speech and the media is immediately removed.

If the coming together of political parties holding diverse views is possible to defeat dictatorship and bring about hopes of change, then CTC believes it is equally possible for all communities to come together and address underlying grievances of its people.

CTC will continue to work with the international community to ensure that this new beginning also entails obtaining long overdue justice for past violations of human rights. In this regard, CTC stands ready to assist the TNA leadership in working towards a lasting peace where values of democracy, citizenry of fairness, equality, justice, dignity and freedom is maintained.

For further information please contact : (416) 240-0078.