Statue for LTTE strategist in Paris

A steady influx of Sri Lankan Tamils, seeking better life in Europe, Scandinavian countries, and Canada, gave the Diaspora wherewithal to pressure foreign political parties.

- BY SHAMINDRA FERDINANDO

The influential Tamil Diaspora had the means to secure the direct support of foreign lawmakers who raised the Sri Lankan issue at their respective legislatures.

Now they have lawmakers of Lankan origin. One of them is Sathiyasangary, now known as Gary Anandasangaree, the incumbent Minister of Public Safety of Labour Premier Mark Carney's new Cabinet.

Gary, an Attorney-at-Law by profession, will oversee agencies tasked with Canada's national security, including the Canada Border Services Agency, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. Gary previously served as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General. Having first entered Parliament in 2015, Gary has come a very long way to receive a top Cabinet portfolio in Canada.

The Tamil Guardian recently announced the laying of a foundation stone for a statue of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) theoretician Anton Balasingham in the Paris suburb Bondy. Bondy Mayor Stephen Hervé was present on the occasion along with several other members of the city council.

The declaration was made in spite of the LTTE still being a proscribed organisation in France and the European Union.

The Editor of the Tamil Guardian, Dr. Thusiyan Nandakumar, declared “Bala anna remains one of the most significant figures in the history of the Tamil struggle.”

Two days after the foundation-laying ceremony, the French Embassy in Colombo celebrated French National Day, aka Bastille Day, with a grand reception at the Galle Face Hotel. Among those who had been invited were Deputy Defence Minister Maj. Gen. (retd.) Aruna Jayasekera and Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (retd.) Sampath Thuyakontha. It would be interesting to know whether the National People’s Power (NPP) government had been at least aware of the controversial French move at the time of the event at the Galle Face Hotel.