Asoka Weerasinghe, Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canada

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ November 2011

Jim Karygiannis, Liberal MP for Scarborough-Agincourt, Ontario.

Dear Jim:

Last evening I received a photo of you standing in a military precision at attention beside the poster of Velupillai Prabhakaran, with the words ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Our Glorious LeaderƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, addressing the Pongu Thamil celebrations in Toronto the other day.

I wasnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t sure whether you were singing the Tamil Tiger National Anthem ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ or ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-O! CanadaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, standing at attention with a mic at your mouth, or whether you were addressing the Tamil crowd who still worship their ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Sun GodƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I burst out laughing.

NowƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦nowƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.Jim, donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t get me wrong and phone me to threaten me again.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I was not laughing at you but laughing at the Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka during High Commissioner Daya PereraƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s time, who told ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-For almost 20 years we couldnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t win Jim Karygianis who has been critical of Sri Lanka, but we have managed to win him within six months of our taking office.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

I laughed.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-What?ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ I said. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- That is a lot of Bull.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I have known this man from the time of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Adam . He is a reincarnate of a Tamil Sun God.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  That was when you had sweet talked them to seek a visa to travel to Sri Lanka during the time of the Bob Rae fiasco.

To prove that I was right, I am going track this diplomat down and send him this photo of you saying, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-See, how right I was.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  A little fly on the wall also told me that you had bad mouthed me to the High Commissioner.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I really didnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t mind Jim, as I know where you stand on the Eelam issue and you know where I stand on this issue, and yet can be civil, even though I resented you flaying your arms like a drunken Greek sailor lambasting Sri Lanka during that eventful February 4, 2009, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Tamil Tiger Blarney Gong ShowƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in the Chambers of the House, when you asked the Canadian Government to kick Sri Lanka out of the Commonwealth if they do not pull up their socks.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  That was quite a show, wasnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t it?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I loved it and I hated it at the same time as theatrics goes.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Quite a theatre and how every one of you were wrong, wrong, wrong ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Maria Minna, Albina Guarneiri, Judy Sgro, Andrew Karnia, Derek Lee, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Bob Rae, Robert Oliphant, you name it.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  But I am sure you remember that evening vividly as much as I do.

IsnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t it time we meet over a cup of tea to exchange views as to what bothers you about Sri Lanka and as to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ what I love about Sri Lanka andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  that no one harasses Sri Lanka unfairly, Tamil or no Tamil?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  You are welcome to be my guest.

Have a good, happy ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and a productive day.

Take care.

Sincerely,

Asoka Weerasinghe