Tamil Canadians welcome Canada’s decision to withdraw funding from Commonwealth

For Immediate Release

April 15th, 2014

Tamil Canadians welcome Canada’s decision to withdraw funding from Commonwealth

Tamil Canadians welcome the action taken by Canada to suspend its voluntary contribution of $20 million to the Commonwealth Secretariat for the period during which the Commonwealth is to be headed by Sri Lanka.

In an official statement on Monday April 14th, Minister of Foreign Affairs, John Baird said, “We can no longer justify providing additional funding to an organization that turns a blind eye to human rights abuses, anti-democratic behaviour and religious intolerance in its member states” and “Canada remains deeply concerned about the absence of accountability for alleged serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian standards in Sri Lanka.”

Canadian Tamil Congress appreciates the continued efforts of the Canadian government to hold Sri Lanka accountable for its systemic violations of human rights through its position in the Commonwealth. “We applaud Canada’s principled stand under the leadership of Prime Minister Harper and Minister Baird. We hope that other countries in the Commonwealth will follow Canada’s example”, stated David Poopalapillai, National Spokesperson for the Canadian Tamil Congress. “It’s time that Sri Lanka faces the consequences for its actions, and it is up to the international community to start that process of accountability”, concluded Poopalapillai.

For more information, please contact David Poopalapillai, National Spokesperson, Canadian Tamil Congress 905-781-7034 / 416-240-0078