We cannot call Maitreyi Ramakrishnan “our OWN” when she isn’t ours to begin with. She has chosen not to identify as Sri Lankan, despite her parents being born there; and quite rightly so: she wasn’t born or raised in Sri Lanka and, as far as we know, may never have even set foot here.
What Sri Lankans should have done was simply ignore it. Why get triggered by the words of a 24-year-old who was born in Canada in 2001 and hasn’t lived through a 30-year war like most of us have? She hasn’t experienced how careless words and actions can fuel division, hatred and, ultimately, conflict.
What we should have done instead is invite her to Sri Lanka. Show her how the Tamils live here, in the North and South, alongside Sinhalese, Muslims, and Burghers. Show her that we are still learning, rebuilding, and reconnecting, and that some of us are still seeking answers.
It’s still not too late to do this. I request PM
@Dr_HariniA and
@HMVijithaHerath to make that call and extend this Canadian citizen the invitation.