Request to Reconsider CTC Voting Membership at TCC and Restore Community Trust

March 20, 2026 —

OTA sent the following letter to Tamil Community Center on Mar 16, 2026

Request to Reconsider CTC Voting Membership at TCC and Restore Community Trust_Mar 16_2026

Dear TCC Board Members,

Thank you for your response dated February 19 to our February 11, 2026, email. The response mentioned that the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) membership application was submitted in September 2025.

We remain profoundly concerned, however, that granting and maintaining CTC as a voting member risks undermining the Tamil Community Centre’s (TCC) fundamental mission of promoting genuine unity, trust, and collective strength across the diverse Tamil Canadian community.

We also request that the Tamil Genocide Memorial (TGM) and Federation of Global Tamil Organizations (FGTO)—as TCC members—actively engage on this critical issue and follow up accordingly.

Since May 2009, CTC has frequently acted in ways that many view as detrimental to the interests of Tamil Canadians. Following the silencing of Tamil Eelam’s authentic voices through genocide, more than 50,000 Canadian Tamils participated in a coordinated community vote at the end of 2009, endorsing the pursuit of the Vaddukoddai Resolution’s principles, stressing rights of self-determination for Tamils in Tamil Eelam. While the diaspora has consistently advocated for recognition of the Tamil Genocide, CTC has at times aligned with—or failed to effectively counter—Sri Lanka’s genocide denial efforts.

A particularly troubling example is the December 2023 meetings between Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) representatives and sanctioned former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, during which the “Himalaya Declaration” was handed over—despite Canada’s January 2023 sanctions on Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa for gross human rights violations against Tamils. This engagement sparked widespread diaspora outrage, described as a profound betrayal, which led to Toronto protests in 2024, vendor withdrawals, and ongoing calls for boycotts from Canadian Tamils. These criticisms have persisted into 2025 and 2026 with no evident change in CTC’s approach, fueling sustained public condemnation and deepening distrust toward CTC and any associated institutions.

These patterns continue to erode confidence in the Tamil Community Centre (TCC), especially during its ongoing capital campaign, which relies on broad diaspora support. Associating with CTC through voting membership risks amplifying perceptions of compromise on justice and accountability. The Tamil Genocide Education Week Act—unanimously passed in Ontario and upheld by the Supreme Court of Canada (dismissing a challenge on March 27, 2025)—designates May 12–18 annually for genocide education and remembrance, establishing these priorities as foundational for Tamil Canadians. Community institutions must safeguard and promote this recognition rather than dilute it via voting influence from entities widely seen as compromising on genocide justice.

A realistic scenario underscores the ongoing risk: If CTC, holding voting rights, were to organize or support an event featuring Namal Rajapaksa (son of Mahinda Rajapaksa and a prominent SLPP MP) at the TCC, it could trigger severe backlash comparable to recent UK events. In February 2026, both the Oxford Union and the Cambridge Union cancelled planned speaking engagements with Namal Rajapaksa after unified protests by British Tamil students, youth groups, and more than 20 allied organizations. Critics condemned the invitations as amounting to political rehabilitation rather than constructive dialogue, citing links to the Rajapaksa legacy of alleged atrocities. A similar incident at the TCC would alienate donors, partners, and community members committed to justice, severely harming the Centre’s unifying role.

We therefore respectfully urge the Board to reconsider and revoke CTC’s voting membership. This would:

Restore confidence among the community and stakeholders who prioritize genocide justice, transparency, and accountability.
Provide a stronger, more inclusive footing for the planned governance workshop to develop explicit safeguards and criteria aligned with core community values, including the Tamil Genocide Education Week Act.

Prompt resolution of CTC’s voting status would demonstrate principled leadership and help ensure the Tamil Community Centre truly serves all Tamils—without compromise on justice, trust, and unity.

Thank you for your attention.

Ottawa Tamil Association – Association tamoule d’Ottawa On behalf of the Board of Directors

info@ottawatamilassociation.ca | www.ottawatamilassociation.ca

https://ottawatamilassociation.ca/news/

cc.

Federation of Global Tamil Organizations (FGTO)

Tamil Genocide Memorial (TGM)

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