Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights, honours Canadian Forces personnel past and present by laying a wreath at the Commonwealth War Graves Liveramentu Cemetery in Colombo, Sri Lanka on November 11, 2013.
Updated Nov 12
On the margins of the Commonwealth meeting, Parliamentary Secretary Deepak Obhrai will visit Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka today where he will meet with Chief Minister Canagasabapathy Visuvalingam Wigneswaran to demonstrate Canada’s support for peaceful political development in Sri Lanka. Mr. Obhrai will also take this opportunity to visit a community displaced during the nearly 30 years of fighting and the site of the battle that ended the conflict in May 2009. The visit to the battle site is in memory of innocent civilians who lost their lives, a news release from the Canadian foreign ministry stated.
On November 11, Mr. Obhrai participated in round-table discussions on the rule of law and human rights. He also attended the Commonwealth People’s Forum to engage civil society on reconciliation and global development issues.
During his visit, Parliamentary Secretary Obhrai will meet with other expert observers to discuss the state of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Sri Lanka.
“Canada will continue to work with its partners to uphold the Commonwealth’s core values, which are cherished by Canadians, and to urge the Government of Sri Lanka to implement fully the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and to promote respect for human rights and the rule of law,” said Mr. Obhrai.
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