Canada says message is clear

November 6, 2013

Canada says its message to the Sri Lankan government is very clear and that message is that the government cannot continue with its current stand on the human rights issue.

Deepak Obhrai, the Canadian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights, said that Canada will continue to fight for human rights in Sri Lanka.

He said that Canada is the only country which will not be represented at the highest level at the Commonwealth summit owing to human rights concerns in Sri Lanka.

Obhrai will be representing the Canadian government at the summit after Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper pulled out in protest over the Sri Lankan government’s failure to meet the expectations of the international community on human rights issues.

Obhrai said that during his visit he hopes to travel to the North and see for himself the post war situation and will also meet with NGOs and civil society in the country.

He said that on his return to Canada he will brief the Canadian government on what he feels is the situation in Sri Lanka. (Colombo Gazette)