Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has issued a statement commemorating 42 years since Black July, the 1983 anti-Tamil pogrom, describing it as “a tragic chapter in Sri Lanka’s history” that left “thousands dead, families shattered, and countless others forced to flee.”
“Black July remains a tragic chapter in Sri Lanka’s history,” said Carney, as he acknowledged the atrocities committed during the state-backed violence that marked a turning point in the island’s post-independence trajectory.
The pogrom saw Sinhala mobs, backed by Sri Lankan politicians and the police, carry out a campaign of violence targeting Tamils across the South. More than 3,000 Tamil civilians were killed, thousands of homes and businesses destroyed, and scores of women and children subjected to horrific violence. The events marked the beginning of mass displacement of Tamils, with thousands fleeing abroad.
Prime Minister Carney praised the efforts of Tamil-Canadians for their continued advocacy. “Driven by the advocacy of Tamil-Canadians, Canada implemented a Special Measures program in 1983 to welcome more than 1,800 Tamils fleeing persecution,” he said. “And in 2022, the Parliament of Canada unanimously declared May 18 Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day – an enduring commitment to truth, justice, and accountability.”
“Canada stands with Tamil-Canadians in remembering the victims and survivors of these atrocities,” he added. “On this solemn day, we honour the lives lost and affirm our work to build a world with meaningful justice and accountability.”