APRIL 19, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ottawa - Today, Mississauga East-Cooksville MP Albina Guarnieri introduced a motion in the House of Commons asking the Government to take immediate action to help displaced Tamil civilians who are being denied the essentials of life by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces.

In Batticaloa more than 150,000 civilians have been displaced by the actions of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and are now being denied access to sufficient drinking water, food, medicine and basic sanitation facilitieare now being denied access to sufficient drinking water, food, medicine and basic sanitation facilities,

Ms. Guarnieri's Motion:

That, in the opinion of the House, the government should:
(a) recognize the humanitarian catastrophe that is growing in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, where several thousand civilians have been displaced by the actions of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and are being denied access to some basic needs; and

(b) use all diplomatic and economic means to ensure that the Sri Lankan government permits the delivery of humanitarian supplies to displaced persons in Batticaloa and allows international aid agencies to monitor their health and well-being.

For Further information contact:
Robert Cline
(905) 566-0009
guarna@parl.gc.ca