Canadian Tamil Congress holds Memorial for 5th Year Anniversary of May 2009 in the Canadian Parliament

On May 15th, 2014, several Members of Parliament and Senators from all political parties attended the 5th year Anniversary of May 2009, ‘Vanished Voices Memorial’ in the historic Commonwealth Room of the Canadian Parliament. Members of Parliament joined Tamil Canadians to remember the tens of thousands of innocent lives lost in Sri Lanka’s bloody civil war. Organized by the Canadian Tamil Congress, the memorial was held to mark the immense bloodshed that occurred during the last stages of the war and featured prayer services by Hindu and Christian priests.

Ruling Conservative Party Member of Parliament from Scarborough Centre, Roxanne James, started off the speeches and the laying of flowers. She was instrumental in making the event possible.

Paul Dewar, MP for Ottawa-Centre and foreign affairs critic for the New Democratic Party, brought a message from the leader of the official opposition Hon. Thomas Mulcair. In his greetings, Mr. Mulcair said, “we will never forget the many vanished voices – vulnerable civilians, many of them women and children – that through no fault of their own and through such tragedy are unable to be here with us today”

Dr. Kirsty Duncan MP for Etobicoke North with veteran Liberal Senator David Smith at her side, brought a message from Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau. NDP MP for Hamilton East- Stoney Creek and the Human Rights critic Wayne Marston, Liberal Party MP for Scarborough-Guildwood John McKay, Conservative Party Senator Don Meredith and NDP MP for Scarborough Rouge River Rathika Sitsabaiesan also delivered remarks.

In closing, Patrick Brown, MP for Barrie and the sponsor of the event, thanked everyone for attending. Many other MP’s and Senators from all political parties participated at the Memorial.

Dignitaries wore black ribbons to remember the thousands of people who perished during the final stages of the war in Sri Lanka 5 years ago. Attendees placed flowers by the lamps in memory of the lost lives and also observed a moment of silence for the vanished voices.

The Canadian Tamil Congress thanks the Government of Canada for leading the efforts to find justice and peace in Sri Lanka . CTC also all thanks all political parties for coming together, taking time off their busy parliamentary schedules to make this non-partisan memorial event a success.