Govt. firms up against genocide allegation: Foreign Minister

• Dismisses recent statements by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney 

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said the government will not hesitate to take legal action against individuals or groups who promote the idea that the Sri Lankan military committed genocide during the civil war.   

Speaking in a recent interview, Herath strongly rejected growing international claims of a Tamil genocide, including recent remarks by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.   

“We absolutely do not accept that a genocide took place in our country,” the minister said.   

Herath explained that according to the government, genocide refers to the deliberate targeting and killing of Tamil people by the Sri Lankan armed forces – something he insisted never happened.   

He also pointed out that there are already laws in place banning the display of symbols and flags related to the LTTE, and these laws will be enforced wherever violations occur.   

“In future, action will also be taken where the word ‘genocide’ is misused,” Herath added.