Sri Lanka’s Consul General ULM Jauhar was accorded a special farewell reception recently by well-wishers of the business community following a successful tenure in Toronto.
Aijith Sabaratnam, former President of Canadian Tamils’ Chamber of Commerce (CTCC) hosted the private reception at Southern Aroma restaurant in Markham, Ontario.
Jauhar who is a career-diplomat serving in the Sri Lanka Foreign Service was thanked by members of community for promoting reconciliation and serving all Sri Lankans.
“I wanted to make the consulate general, a place you can call yours. I was always in the belief that Sri Lankans living abroad can call a place their own; a high commission, embassy or consulate was such a place,” Jahuar said in his remarks.
During his tenure the Sri Lankan government was conciliatory towards to reconciliation with minority communities .
Often known to be humble, Jahuar said any success in Toronto was perhaps due to his timing and cooperation from all sections of the community.
Ajith Sabaratnam, former President of Canadian Tamils Chamber of Commerce CTCC.
Among the speakers at the event were Ganesan Sugumar, Stan Muthulingam, Raja Kanaga, Kulla Sellathurai, Mahesh Abeyewardene and Vilosan Sivatharman.
Sabartanam noted many though many Sri Lankan Tamils in Canada like himself have visited Sri Lanka in recent years; yet many are still hesitant after leaving the country during difficult circumstances.
He noted the community was keen on the welfare of those in the North East Sri Lanka and the hardships faced by post-conflict families in the region.
Sabaratnam recalled the long lines of people in Canada post-tsunami in 2004, who were keen to donate to their communities.
