These targeted attacks by Sinhala Buddhist Nationalist groups have grown in numbers in the past few years, and as is habitual in Sri Lanka, none of the perpetrators have been brought to justice. “The lukewarm and ineffective measures taken by law enforcement and government officials has emboldened the extremist Sinhala Buddhist organizations like Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) organization and the attacks have kept growing”, said David Poopalapillai, National Spokesperson for the Canadian Tamil Congress.
Tamils, who are mainly Hindus and Christians, expected to remember the 31st anniversary of “Black July”, in Toronto and all over the world, in July 1983, Sinhala nationalist mobs killed over 3000 Tamils in the streets of Colombo and all across Sri Lanka. CTC condemns the recent attacks on Muslims , and urges Canadian government and the international community to send a very strong message to the current Sri Lankan government to take effective and timely action to stop these violence against minorities immediately and bring the perpetrators to justice.
We also extend our deepest sympathies to victims of this recent violence in Sri Lanka.