Sri Lankan ‘boat people’ in Canada

By Hasaka Ratnamalala, Noor Nizam , Asoka Perera

(October 22, Toronto, Sri Lanka Guardian) Another ship arrived in Vancouver on October 17th 2009, with 76 Tamils claiming that they are coming from former war ravaged areas of Sri Lanka. A similar ship was captured by Indonesian Authorities on its way to Australia. There could be more ships heading our way originated from different locations claiming that they are coming from Sri Lanka.

According to information coming from Indonesia; authorities have already captured two (2) people who were connected to this human smuggling campaign and we urge Canadian Authorities to do the same. Indonesian authorities were also able to found out that the Australia bound ship was not originated in Sri Lanka.

We, the members of Sri Lankan Canadians Against Terrorism (SLCAT) are requesting media and other organizations to be vigilant and look for the culprits behind these human smuggling campaign instead of finding another way to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka and her people.

Also we like to point out that there were some organizations based in Toronto which were preparing for this shipload of people, before even authorities were aware of its arrival into Canadian waters. We request Canadian authorities to inquire in to these organizations and find out what they knew about this ship, before it arrived in here; and what support they have given to these human smugglers to bring this ship in to Canadian waters.

Our concerns are the negative influence, that will affect the Canadian society and the damage it will result by suspected trained terrorists and killers reaching Canada under the disguise of reaching out to Canada as refugees/asylum seekers as done by these 76 seafarers supported by the human trafficking master minds of the banned LTTE and the so-called Tamil Community groups in Canada who are LTTE front operator organizations. Canada should prevent our next generation Tamils from the influence of such elements now.

-Sri Lanka Guardian