Published Feb. 18, 2009
I am very disappointed with Sri Lankan High Commissioner Dayanada Perera's rejection of a ceasefire in Sri Lanka (RE: "'We'll Fight Them Right to the End': Sri Lanka," Feb. 11).
Despite the international community's outcry, Sri Lanka unilaterally abrogated the Norwegian-facilitated ceasefire and has been waging this bloody war with mounting civilian causalities.
Since the war broke out, Sri Lanka has expelled all UN and other international aid agencies, prevented journalists from visiting those areas, blocked basic necessities such as food and medicine, and has been using heavy bombs, including cluster bombs, against innocent civilians. Hospitals and "safe zones" are not spared. The ICRC and UNHCR are very concerned about the mounting civilian casualties. The international community, including Canada, has been calling for an immediate ceasefire; but Sri Lanka has rejected it.
If Mr. Perera's acknowledgment of addressing grievances of Tamils is genuine, I challenge him to come out and openly promote a federal model like Canada. We Singhalese and Tamil Canadians will support him wholeheartedly for his effort.
The root cause of the problem is the failure of the Sri Lankan leaders to offer a decent federal solution, like Canada, to Tamils in Sri Lanka, not the other way around.
Dr. S. Premjeyanth
Nepean, Ont.