Thank you.
My name is Renuka Rajaratnam. First, let me thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak out.
I'm a proud Canadian and have been living in Canada for over 25 years. Last year, in 2011, I was celebrating my 25th wedding anniversary, on September 17, 2011. I thought this was an event I would celebrate with my family here in Toronto and in Sri Lanka. We are a family of eight, my siblings, with five of us living here in Toronto and three living in Sri Lanka. My two oldest brothers and my youngest sister are the people who live in Sri Lanka. In order to process the celebration, along with my husband I sponsored my three siblings for visitors' visas through my lawyer. All three applied at the same time, with all relevant documents.
My two older siblings were granted visas to come to Canada to attend the function, but not my younger sister. I was so disappointed with the decision of the Sri Lanka High Commission, and I just couldn't come to understand why two members of the same family were given the opportunity to attend, while one person was left behind. This is a reunion I have waited for for 34 years, and it was shattered due to a decision made by the Sri Lanka High Commission, and to date I don't know the reason. They haven't given me the reason for turning down my sister.
My sister did produce all the relevant documents and she had a return ticket, and I vouched through my lawyer for her departure date. She was leaving behind her husband, two young daughters, and her employment in a leading law firm in Sri Lanka. With all these reasons I've given, she was still turned down.
I just want to say here that I had sent out invitations to permanent residents as well as for visitors' visas for numerous friends and family. None of them have violated so far any of the stipulations given by the government. This rejection was very disappointing, and it really took a big toll on our family. I just need reasons for why the Sri Lanka High Commission did this to us. The emotional stress was more than the expenses we incurred. I have produced all the documents that incurred the expenses.
I just want to find out the details, find out the reason for the future, if the commission can come up with the reason why she was turned down. Here's a lady, my younger sister, who travels widely. Why is she not allowed to come to Canada when the rest of her family members are living here? It's just for a visitor's visa. If I could have one good reason, I would accept it. It would really give closure to this whole thing. I would not have to pursue it any more and go through the emotional trauma. I'm looking forward to hearing from the commission, if you could come up with the reasons and find a resolution to this.
That's all I've got to say. Thank you very much again for giving me this opportunity to present my side of the story.
Thank you.