There was genocide in Canada: Canadian envoy

We are trying to bring about reconciliation with indigenous people

• Sri Lanka have same potential  

By Yohan Perera   

Canadian High Commissioner Eric Walsh yesterday said that  there was genocide in Canada and its now trying to bring about  reconciliation with its indigenous people, and Sri Lanka also have  potential for the same.   
“Sri Lanka can achieve much like Canada, which has presented  itself as a bilingual nation both domestically and internationally.  Canadian life is in bilingual nature with English and French and Tamil  to some extent. This is how Canada has presented itself domestically and  internationally. This is what we are focusing when it comes to our  relationship with Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka can also do it with its positive  aspects and advantages,” Mr. Walsh told a media conference organized by  the Canadian Tamil Congress to announce its assistance to Sri Lanka.   

Canada is trying to bring about reconciliation with its  indigenous people. It has been acknowledged that there has been  genocide in Canada. It is a long process and difficult,” he added.   
Mr. Walsh praised the Sri Lankan Tamils in Canada stating  that they have played a great contribution to the well-being of that nation.  “We have a large number of Canadian professionals such as doctors and  others. There are also two Tamil origin Cabinet members in Canada,” he  said in this regard.   

He said there were a number of Canadian organizations working in  Sri Lanka undertaking many projects such as setting up a Thalassemia  Centre in Kurunegala. He also praised the Canadian Tamil Congress, which  has raised Rs 250 million through the recent project Canadian Tamil Walk.    

Tamil Progressive Alliance and Member of Parliament Mano  Ganesan said Canada has been a long-standing friend of Sri Lanka. He  recalled that Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake  had gained recognition as an international airport with Canadian  assistance. “It was Canada which assisted Sri Lanka to construct a  11,000 feet runway at the Katunayake Airport during the 1960s,” he said.