Canadian sues diaspora outfit

Manjula Fernando

A Canadian citizen Rajan Mahavalirajan has filed a case in Canada's Superior Court of Justice against TESOC Multicultural Settlement Services, a government funded non proft operated by Sri Lankan diaspora, on the charges of financial irregularities and assault.

He has claimed that one of the Directors of the TESOC Mahendrarajah Makandu a resident of Velvetithurei, who is now a citizen of Canada, assaulted him in front of security guards when he visited the TESOC office to get membership of the organisation. The case has been filed against the ten directors of the TESOC and the Citizenship and Immigration of Canada and its provincial body Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration in Ontario which funds the organisation.

The plaintiff has asked for general damages and have sought a court order for discontinuation of funding by government ministries and bar the TESOC directors from holding any public office.

Mahavalirajan has said he and his brother went to get membership of this government funded organisation in December 2012. When they tried to hand over the filled application forms they were refused to give membership. When they inquired about this action and asked for explanation, he was manhandled and intimidated.

TESOC Multicultural Settlement Services is functioning to assist the Canadian new comers with settlement services and functions with the funds from the Canadian federal, provincial and municipal governments.