Conservatives Stand Strong for Peace and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka

(September 25, 2015, Montreal, Sri Lanka Guardian) Today, Mr. Robert Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., announced that a re-elected Conservative government would continue to lead the world in its support for peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

In 2013, Prime Minister Stephen Harper held firm on the dubious record of the Rajapaksa regime by boycotting the 23rd Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Rajapaksa regime’s atrocities continued in defiance of the recommendations from the UN Secretary General’s Panel of Experts on Accountability, including calls for an independent international investigation into alleged crimes.

Recently, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights confirmed this disturbing treatment of Sri Lankan Tamils, cataloguing a record of mass murder amounting to genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, property seizure and other potential war crimes.

“With a re-elected Conservative government, Canada will continue its strong and unequivocal support of Sri Lankans as they pursue peace and reconciliation,” said Nicholson. “A re-elected Conservative government will call for and invest in international efforts that are essential in providing Sri Lankans confidence in the independence and impartiality of the difficult process that lies ahead.”

A re-elected Conservative government will press for an independent international investigation, and continue to engage the international community to advance justice and facilitate reconciliation. A re-elected Conservative government will also press for the return of seized land, provide support to the internally displaced, sponsor rehabilitation and relief efforts for the victims of war including war widows, and ensure that vital assistance is delivered to the communities that need it the most. A re-elected Conservative government will also continue its commitment to Sri Lankan democracy and civil society in the difficult process ahead.

“Building from the support Canada has provided to Sri Lankan civil society in recent elections, a re-elected Conservative government will continue its deep commitment to peace and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans,” concluded Nicholson.