News
Bid to include genocide allegation against Sri Lanka in Canada’s school curriculum thwarted
Dr. Neville Hewage yesterday said that the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada had determined that alleged Tamil genocide hadn’t taken place in Sri Lanka.
The academic, who successfully moved the Canadian courts, said that, therefore, the much-touted Tamil Genocide Education Week Act (TGEWA), in terms of the ruling given by the Ontario Court of Appeal and confirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada, is not within provincial Jurisdiction Education under Canada’s Constitution. Dr. Hewage said so in response to The Island query.
Declaring that the Canadian ruling was a huge victory for Sri Lanka, constantly harassed by various interested parties over unsubstantiated war crimes allegations, Dr. Hewage emphasised that alleged Tamil genocide couldn’t be in the school curriculum.
The Canadian parliament in May 2022 declared May 18 as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, thereby recognising the massacre of Tamils during the last phase of the war.
Responding to another query, Dr. Hewage valued the legal action at approximately $350,000 while denying any backing from the Sri Lankan government. “I haven’t received any funding from the government,” Dr. Hewage said, appreciating the backing provided by the Canadian legal team.
Adjunct Professor of the Law and Justice Department Laurentian University. Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Hewage said: “I did my own legal work which cost me only time and the expenses for filing.”
Dr. Hewage dismissed attempts made by the pro-LTTE lobby to propagate the lie that the Supreme Court of Canada had dismissed the challenge to Bill 104 aka TGEWA, thereby allowing education and commemorative events/efforts.
Asked to explain, Dr. Hewage pointed out that although the Ontario Superior Court of justice, the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada had determined that Tamil genocide did not take place in Sri Lanka, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice had ruled that TGEWA is valid under the Constitution Act, 1867, s 93 Education. Recalling that the first application had been filed against the Attorney General of Ontario on June 06, 2021, Dr. Hewage said that he had moved the Ontario Court of Appeal on July 22, 2022 and that court ruled that the TGEWA was not in line with the relevant Act.
The Appeal Court had concluded that TGEWA was not within the provincial jurisdiction as outlined in the Constitution Act, 1867, s. 93 Education, Dr. Hewage said.
The bottom line was that Tamil genocide couldn’t be included in their school curriculum, Dr. Hewage said. The Canadian verdict couldn’t have come at a better time for Sri Lanka, troubled by UK sanctions on Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, retired Generals, Shavendra Silva and Jagath Jayasuriya as well as one-time LTTE Ampara-Batticaloa commander Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna over war crimes allegations.
Dr. Hewage said that he had appealed to the Supreme Court on Nov 11, 2024 as he feared that the Ontario Court of Appeal could be reversed in case some other pro-LTTE party moved court and may declare plausible Tamil genocide. The academic stressed that throughout their campaign, the Sri Lankan government had not extended any help.
At the time, Dr. Hewage initiated the legal process Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the President. By the time Dr. Hewage appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada, the National People’s Power (NPP) had gained power.
The development with regard to TGEWA has taken place in the wake of Jaffna-born Gary Anandasangaree receiving appointment as Justice Minister and Attorney-General of Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Minister. He has been campaigning against alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka.
Dr. Hewage said that some media and other interested parties had been working overtime to deceive the people by misinterpreting the Canadian Supreme Court decision.
The Supreme Court had confirmed the Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision, and no further inquiries were required, Dr. Hewage said, adding that the pro-LTTE lobby was quite upset as both the Superior Court of Justice and the Appeal Court of Ontario had determined that Tamil genocide did not take place in Sri Lanka. “Therefore, the Supreme Court of Canada will not further inquire into the Tamil genocide claim and as such the Appeal court decision will stand,” Dr. Hewage said.
by Shamindra Ferdinando
The newly appointed Cabinet Committee tasked with ensuring the uninterrupted functioning of Sri Lanka’s public service held its inaugural meeting on Thursday (19) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya.
The Committee convened to discuss strategies to maintain seamless government operations in the face of potential disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict situation in the Middle East, with particular focus on energy resource management.
According to officials, the discussions emphasised sustaining essential government services, ensuring continued service delivery to the public, and addressing the operational challenges faced by public sector employees during the current circumstances. The Committee also examined measures to mitigate any disruptions that could affect day-to-day administrative and service functions across ministries and departments.
Key attendees at the meeting included the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government A. H. M. M. H. Abayaratne; Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Secretary to the
Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri; Chief of Staff to the President Prabath Chandrakeerthi; and senior secretaries from key ministries including Health and Mass Media, Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Energy, and Digital Economy.
Representatives from state institutions such as the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation were also present, highlighting the government’s focus on energy security as a central priority. The Committee’s deliberations underscored a coordinated approach to balancing uninterrupted public service delivery with effective management of limited energy resources amid the ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.
Observers note that the formation of this Cabinet Committee reflects the government’s proactive stance in safeguarding national administrative functions and ensuring that critical public services remain resilient during times of external pressures.The Committee is expected to meet regularly to monitor developments, evaluate emerging risks, and implement practical measures to maintain operational continuity across the public sector.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on Friday lashed out at President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Parliament, accusing him of failing to uphold international law during wartime.
Premadasa said the President’s claim of neutrality ignored breaches of the UN Charter—including Articles 2.4 and 2.7—and other global conventions. “A neutral stance requires openly acknowledging violations,” he argued, criticizing the absence of ethical mechanisms to safeguard international law.
He also questioned the President’s handling of maritime issues, particularly whether Sri Lanka had been informed of the alleged attack on the Iranian vessel IRIS Dena, stressing that the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) permits only peaceful activity.
On the economic front, Premadasa condemned the government for missing a chance to buy Russian oil during a 30-day U.S. sanctions suspension.
He said attempts to advise the Foreign Ministry, including a meeting with the Russian Ambassador, yielded no progress.
Premadasa further ridiculed the government’s earlier dismissal of the QR code fuel system, noting that officials are now adapting to it.
Turning to broader economic concerns, he called for immediate negotiations with the IMF to secure a new agreement, warning that the current primary balance of 2.3 is unsustainable. He stressed the urgent need for a poverty-reduction program, highlighting that one-third of Sri Lankans live in poverty.
He also demanded that surplus Treasury funds be used to support relief packages, arguing billions in reserves could aid households struggling with income shortfalls.Concluding his address, Premadasa criticized the government for failing to prepare for foreseeable crises, leaving the country vulnerable.
Former Minister Johnston Fernando, his two sons, and three others were remanded by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court yesterday (20) until April 2, the court confirmed.
The suspects, including Fernando’s elder son Johan, younger son Jerome, and a former transport manager of Lanka Sathosa, are under investigation by the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID).
Authorities allege the Lanka Sathosa lorry was misused for operations linked to an ethanol company reportedly owned by Fernando, causing an estimated Rs. 2.5 million loss to the state.
Trump says US will ‘obliterate’ Iran’s power plants if Strait of Hormuz not open before 48-hour deadline
Showers may occur at several places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya district after 1.00 pm.
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Sajith slams President over war conduct and economic missteps
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