Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the suffering of the innocent men, women and children who have become the victims of violence in Sri Lanka.
In my riding I have heard from hundreds of diaspora Sri Lankans, both Sinhalese and Tamil, and I can say that they are united in their desire for their home country to finally achieve the peace that has eluded them for so long.
If the past few decades have proven anything to the outside world, it is that violence will not solve this conflict. A political solution must be brokered which protects the fundamental rights of all Sri Lankans. That must begin with an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Countries such as the United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland have already called for this so that innocent civilians can leave the conflict zone.
I call upon the Government of Canada to join them and to press the United Nations to appoint a special representative, backed by the full weight of the UN, to help end the violence and protect human life in Sri Lanka.