Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown has called on the federal government to take a firm stance against what he describes as “foreign interference” by the Sri Lankan government regarding a planned Tamil Genocide Memorial in Brampton. The controversy stems from a letter sent in May by Sri Lanka’s Consul General in Toronto, Thushara Rodrigo, urging the city to halt the construction of the memorial, which is intended to honor those who died during Sri Lanka’s prolonged civil war.
Brown has strongly criticized the Sri Lankan government’s attempts to influence local affairs, labeling the actions as intimidation and an effort to prevent the Tamil community from commemorating their history in Canada. He also called for the prosecution of those responsible for the Tamil genocide at the International Criminal Court.
The Sri Lankan Consul General’s letter argued that the memorial could disrupt unity and reconciliation efforts among Sri Lankans and presented a “false version of recent history.” In response, Brown asserted that Canada would not bow to such pressure, emphasizing that the memorial is a significant symbol for the Tamil community.
The situation has brought renewed attention to the ongoing tension surrounding the recognition of the Tamil genocide. Ontario’s Bill 104 already designates a week each year as “Tamil Genocide Education Week,” reflecting the province’s acknowledgment of the atrocities. Meanwhile, the UN has accused Sri Lanka of obstructing accountability for war crimes, though the Sri Lankan government denies allegations of genocide.
This incident adds to a series of foreign interference concerns in Canada, with Mayor Brown previously revealing that he had been briefed by Canadian intelligence agencies about various countries, including Sri Lanka, allegedly engaging in such activities in Brampton and Peel Region.