www.rsis.edu.sg 2524 – – 31 30 August Novem 2014ber 2014 Country Weekly Report of International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research SRI LANKA Terrorism On 27 November 2014, Steven Blaney, Public Safety Minister of Canada, urged Rathika Sitsabaiesan, a Sri Lankan Tamil-Canadian Member of Parliament of the New Democratic Party (NDP) to “stop shopping for votes from terrorist-linked groups, and to immediately apologise to veterans and all Canadians” for her statement that likened the “Tamil Heroes Day” celebrated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terrorist group to Canada’s national Remembrance Day which commemorates soldiers that died in the First and Second World Wars.1 He said he was “shocked and appalled” that Rathika Sitsabaiesan rose in the House of Commons to commemorate Tamil Heroes Day which honours LTTE fighters who die in battle, the LTTE being a designated terrorist organisation in Canada.2 Ms. Sitsabaiesan denied that she was supporting terrorism or encouraging violence, although “Heroes Day” celebrations in Canada feature the LTTE flag and participants paying homage to fallen LTTE leaders and fighters.3 Canada remains a key hub of the LTTE’s overseas network and hosts the largest population of the radicalized, pro-LTTE Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora. 1 “NDP MP commemorates event honouring fallen Tamil Tigers, likens it to Remembrance Day in parliament,” National Post (http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/11/27/ndp-mp-commemorates-event-honouring-fallen-tamil- tigers-likens-it-to-remembrance-day-in-parliament/; 27 November 2014) “Canadian minister urges MP Rathika to apoligise for honouring LTTE,” Daily Mirror (http://www.dailymirror.lk/57659/canadian-minister-urges-mp-rathika-to-apoligise-for-honouring-ltte, 28 November 2014) 2 “NDP MP commemorates event honouring fallen Tamil Tigers, likens it to Remembrance Day in parliament,” National Post (http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/11/27/ndp-mp-commemorates-event-honouring-fallen-tamil- tigers-likens-it-to-remembrance-day-in-parliament/; 27 November 2014) “Canadian minister urges MP Rathika to apoligise for honouring LTTE,” Daily Mirror (http://www.dailymirror.lk/57659/canadian-minister-urges-mp-rathika-to-apoligise-for-honouring-ltte, 28 November 2014) 3 “NDP MP commemorates event honouring fallen Tamil Tigers, likens it to Remembrance Day in parliament,” National Post (http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/11/27/ndp-mp-commemorates-event-honouring-fallen-tamil- tigers-likens-it-to-remembrance-day-in-parliament/; 27 November 2014) “Canadian minister urges MP Rathika to apoligise for honouring LTTE,” Daily Mirror (http://www.dailymirror.lk/57659/canadian-minister-urges-mp-rathika-to-apoligise-for-honouring-ltte, 28 November 2014) .