Tamil Canadians hold vigils across Canada urging cricket world to boycott Sri Lanka

Tamil in Canada held vigils across the country to urge the cricket world for boycotting Sri Lanka cricket team until the nearly 300,000 civilians in internment camps were released.

The vigils participated by hundreds of Tamils took place in Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver outside the New Zealand High Commission and consulates.

The New Zealand offices were selected for the vigils as the New Zealand Black Caps are set to visit Sri Lanka to play cricket.

Participants in the vigil chanted slogans to raise awareness about the plights of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Their slogans included: ‘Say Yes to Human Rights,’ ‘Say No to Internment Camps,’ ‘Rwanda, Sudan and now Sri Lanka.’ Many also stood for hours, handing out brochures about the IDP crisis in Sri Lanka. This boycott will be one of many against Sri Lanka.. Next Saturday, Tamil Canadians will gather in Dundas Square Toronto outside of stores like Gap and Banana Republic to urge them not to carry Sri Lankan products.

“Sri Lanka has not played by the rules when it comes to nearly 300,000 civilians who are illegally confined to internment camps with no freedom of movement to leave,” said David Poopalapillai, National Spokesperson for the Canadian Tamil Congress.

He further said Sri Lanka has violated international law with its actions and, its behavior should not be endorsed or ignored with the presence of nations which follow international rules not only for sporting events but in all walks of life.