Memorial held for victims of accused serial killer Bruce McArthur

April 27, 2018 – The Members of the Tamil Canadian community gathered in Scarborough on April, 26th 2018, to remember the victims allegedly killed by Bruce McArthur. Two of the victims, Skanda Navaratnam and Kirushnakumar Kanagaratnam were Tamils who fled the war in Sri Lanka to seek refuge in Canada.

Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) hosted the memorial with the support of Alliance of South Asians for AIDS Prevention (ASAAP), Amnesty International Canada (AI), Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR), Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI), Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL) and Tamil Worker’s Network. Family members and friends of some of the victims also participated at the memorial.

The speakers representing the many organizations expressed their deepest condolences to the family members and friends of the victims and the LGTBQ+ community during these difficult times. They also pointed out the failure of the government and other institutions established to safeguard these victims and the failure of the refugee system.

A letter written by the parents of Kirshnakumar Kanagaratnam, who had arrived on MV Sun Sea in 2010, addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was read at the memorial. In the letter Krishnakumar’s parent’s, appealed for justice for the killing of their son. They also sought Prime Minister’s help in obtaining the remains of their son delivered to them so they could perform his funeral final rites according to their religious customs. Canadian Tamil Congress urges Canadian government and the relevant authorities to help with their request, so the elderly parents of this victim can have a closure on the death of their beloved son.

City TV Coverage of the memorial:
http://toronto.citynews.ca/video/2018/04/26/tamil-community-calls-for-change-after-serial-killings/

CTV Coverage:
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1381257

Recorded CP24 Coverage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEih_BfmEqw