Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has slammed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for engaging in vote bank politics by consistently spreading "false narrative" about the ethnic conflict against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
In a meeting with the Canadian Deputy Minister for International Development Christopher MacLennan earlier this week, Lankan Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane expressed the island nation's deep concerns over the "high-level pronouncements" made in Canada "representing a false narrative of genocide" in connection with the conflict that took place in the country for over three decades till 2009.
Foreign Secretary Wijewardane requested Canada to engage with Sri Lanka in a "constructive manner" and facilitate dialogue and reconciliation, the IANS news agency reported.
"Foreign Secretary expressed Sri Lanka's deep concern regarding high-level pronouncements made in Canada in recent years representing a false narrative of genocide in connection with the conflict that took place in Sri Lanka. The Foreign Secretary requested Canada to engage with Sri Lanka in a constructive manner and facilitate dialogue and reconciliation," the Lankan Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Trudeau designated May 18 as 'Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day', marking 15 years since the end of the bloody civil war in Sri Lanka. "Two years ago, Canada's Parliament unanimously voted to recognize May 18 as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. We will always advocate for justice and accountability for the crimes committed during the conflict, as well as for the hardships faced by all in Sri Lanka," PM Trudeau stated.
Colombo immediately reacted to the allegations of "genocide" and accused the Canadian PM of engaging in "electoral vote bank politics". Its close neighbor India has also leveled similar allegations against Trudeau as the country continues to give the political spotlight to Khalistani separatists.
