Canada disowns Tiger stamps
The Canada Post Corporation informed the Sri Lankan High Commission in Ottawa that it had not printed postage stamps promoting the LTTE’S separatist agenda.
The High Commission was responding to a letter from the Sri Lankan Government expressing deep concern over the alleged issue of a personalised stamp by the Canada Post Corporation promoting the LTTE’S separatist agenda. Canada Post Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Deepak Chopra said he had this matter reviewed immediately upon
The image has never been printed by Canada Post; it is a false representation of our picture postage programme
DEEPAK CHOPRA
receipt of the letter.
“Please be assured that the image has never been printed by Canada Post; it is a false representation of our picture postage programme and is being fully investigated by our Security Department,” Mr. Chopra said.
“The postage stamp was not printed by our picture postage programme and is in no way part of our official philatelic programme which goes through a very careful selection process including approval by our Board of Directors.”
Following reports in the LTTE affiliated websites and media on the alleged issue of a personalised stamp by Canada Post Corporation promoting the LTTE’S separatist agenda which also includes a reference to “genocide”, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner Chitranganee Wagiswara sent two letters, one to MP and Canada Post Corporation Minister Denis Lebel and the other to Mr. Chopra to register Sri Lanka’s protest and expressing the deep concern of the High Commission on this matter. This issue was also brought to the notice of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in Canada.
Ms. Wagiswara drew attention to the LTTE affiliated organisations and their activities in Canada, and requested Canada Post to take immediate steps to withdraw the stamp in question from circulation and to initiate an inquiry on how such a stamp came to be issued by Canada Post. The letter also drew attention to the propaganda activities carried out by the front organizations of the LTTE.