A video circulating on social media shows a group of Tamils residing in Canada unveiling a Tamil genocide memorial in Brampton, Canada. The memorial prominently features a map of Tamil Eelam, reportedly associated with the LTTE, which is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries including Sri Lanka.
According to posts shared by attendees, the memorial was constructed as a response to the demolition of a similar structure that had been erected at the University of Jaffna in 2021 by the Sri Lankan government.
The newly unveiled monument was built with the support of several Tamil organizations in Canada, including the Canadian Tamil National Council. It features a 4.8-metre structure made of stainless steel and includes a depiction of Tamil Eelam, the separatist state envisioned by the LTTE during Sri Lanka’s civil conflict.
Footage from the unveiling ceremony also shows Vijay Thanigasalam, a deputy minister in Ontario and a native of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, in attendance at the event.
The installation of the memorial had been previously approved by the Brampton City Council earlier this year.
In response to public discourse surrounding the monument, Canadian Justice Minister Gary Anandasangari defended it in a statement on social media. He stated that the memorial serves to honour “thousands of innocent lives” and celebrates “the resilience of Tamil communities worldwide.”
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reportedly requested urgent information from the Sri Lankan High Commission in Ottawa regarding the unveiling ceremony.
