Canadian Srilankan community rejoices together in their cultural gathering showing Solidarity behind Government of Srilanka at a critical time of UN Panel report.                                           

By Lenin Benedict-Toronto 

The Tamil and Sinhala New year celebration was celebrated by the Canadian Democratic Tamil Cultural Association in Toronto at Agincourt Collegiate in a grand manner at a critical time when the UN Panel report has been published. The overwhelming Canadian Srilankans came to this function to show the world, that the Srilankan community is united in Canada and a show of Solidarity to the Government and the people of Srilanka.

It was a moment of rejoice to the Canadian Srilankan community, when the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims came together as one Srilankan community to celebrate their New Year.             The Canadian Democratic Cultural Association has organized the same Sinhala and Tamil New year event in the past years overthrowing the fear and pressure from separatist organizations in Canada. But this year was more significant as the Srilankan Government officials presided the function where the Srilankan High Commissioner to Canada and Consul General attended as chief guests.

In the cultural show, there were dance and music was played but what attracts me was the drums beat played by various groups belongs to Srilanka, India, China and Africa. Many would have heard the sound of drums as a sound of music. But I personally heard those beat of the drums as the sound of victory and Solidarity. The first drums was played by Srilankans seems symbolically to me as the victory band for defeating separatism. The second drum was played by Indians before the Bhangra dance as solidarity of support. This drum beat and the sound that made makes me to feel, it’s not just a sound but saying we are there for you. The smiles of those dancers reflect their joy of giving peace to Srilanka by the strong support they extended to us in our critical time of war.

The third drum was played by Chinese, while the dragons passed through the audience. These beats of drum symbolically remind me of the help by China to beat the separatist. The final drums played were from Africa, which shows the solidarity with Srilanka. But the unique in this African drumming is that not all the drummers were from Africa but a mixing of Europeans as well. That compensated the missing of westerner’s solidarity with Srilanka and thanks to African drummers.  All the beat of drums though varied but the music that were produced, gave a clear and sound message that they are with us.

While the Srilankans belongs to Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims communities joining together to promote unity and peace here in Canada, sending a stronger message to the Island Nation its  Solidarity and to follow the same in the Srilanka, there was also a meeting went on in the same Scarborough area, with members belonging to Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT), May 18 and various other group to discuss what role could the Tamil Diaspora controlled by LTTE could play to bring more damages and destructions to the Tamil community living in Srilanka and to the country as a whole.

The Tamil community and the Diaspora should understand one important thing that the relationship and bondage that continues with our Sinhala brothers are over decades and it cannot be sacrificed or destroyed for mere political reasons. There are political differences within us and it had to be solved through political means and not by any violent methods which not only brought destructions to the lives of Tamils but to the whole country as well. We live in a civilized society, where we have to behave in a civilized manner to overcome the differences. With all our differences, let us be together and shall grow together. This is what democracy means. Let us build the lives of our brothers in Srilanka and lend them a helping hand to rebuild the Nation. Let us make this as our New Year wish and work to achieve it.

The event by Canadian Democratic Tamil Cultural Association seems to be not just a New Year celebration but a community get to gather with true spirit and feeling of togetherness.    It clearly shows the growing friendship and relationship between the Srilankan communities over the years. My memory goes before five years, when the same event was organized in a Salvation Army facility in 2007 with nearly fifty members of both the community participated. It has grown to hundreds over the years building a stronger relationship and unity.  I wish and pray that the same to continue in the coming years and proud to be a founding member of this Association.