Statement by Liberal Party of Canada Leader Justin Trudeau on Black July

July 23, 2015

WINNIPEG – The Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the anniversary of Black July:

“Today, I join Tamil communities in Canada and around the world in solemnly marking the pogroms of Black July that began on this day, 32 years ago. Let us pause to remember not only the victims of the anti-Tamil pogroms, but the thousands of lives lost throughout the entirety of the Sri Lankan Civil War.

“Last year, the Liberal Party of Canada welcomed the United Nations Human Rights Council’s decision to conduct an investigation into serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law during the war in Sri Lanka. Today, we await the findings of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. We maintain our long-standing need for accountability as the basis for long-term peace and stability in Sri Lanka.

“For over three decades, Canada has opened its doors to thousands of refugees and immigrants from Sri Lanka who fled in desperate search of liberty, fairness, and prosperity. On this anniversary, may we reaffirm our commitment to welcoming those seeking asylum from this protracted crisis, and extend our deepest condolences to those remembering lost loved ones today.”