Fete Lifestyle Magazine June 2020 - Travel Issue | Page 33

ri Lanka, a teardrop shaped

island located in the Indian

Ocean just south of the tip of

India, is popular among surfers and beach enthusiasts for its long stretches of beaches, as well as a spiritual getaway for nomads who appreciate the historic Buddhist and Hindu temples. It was the highlight of tropical destinations for Europeans and their families. But it hasn’t always been so idyllic, especially for the ethnic minority Tamil population. Civil war broke out in the 80s, decimating Tamil families like mine, forcing over a million Tamils to flee the country to avoid persecution and genocide that many around the world seem to know little about. This is how I and my family ended up in Toronto, Canada, Tamil refugees.

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