Rathika makes maiden speech in English, Tamil and French

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 June 2011, 12:43 GMT]
Canadian Eezham-Tamil parliamentarian Rathika Sitsabaiesan representing Sacarborough-Rouge River constituency chose to make her debut speech in Canadian parliament Friday in English, Tamil and French. The New Democratic Party MP speaking on Budgetary Policy, and making part of her speech in Tamil, said that as the very first Member of Parliament from Tamil heritage, she was proud and humbled for being able to speak in the Canadian parliament in her mother tongue. Amidst applauding claps and shouts of “bravo” by fellow members she continued to say that Tamils who had come to Canada fleeing prosecution and civil war do their utmost to contribute to the economic development and cultural fabric of the great country that had received them with open arms.

“We have achieved this very important milestone to hear Tamil being spoken in the Canadian House of Commons,” Rathika said adding that the entire global Tamil diaspora would be proud of this achievement.

Rathika received a standing ovation from the members of the House at the end of her maiden speech.



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