Canada’s Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree is under pressure after it was revealed that he had written letters supporting the immigration case of a Sri Lankan national linked to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a group designated as a terrorist organization in Canada.
Anandasangaree wrote two letters, in 2016 and 2023—prior to joining the federal cabinet—urging the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to reconsider its rejection of Senthuran Selvakumaran’s application for permanent residency. Selvakumaran has been denied entry since 2005 due to what officials describe as a “protracted involvement” with the LTTE.
The 2023 letter, sent days before Anandasangaree was appointed Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, criticized the CBSA decision as “cruel and inhumane.” He became Public Safety Minister in May 2025. Though he has since recused himself from cases involving the LTTE or affiliated groups, critics say his prior advocacy raises concerns about judgment and potential conflicts of interest.
Last week, the Federal Court upheld CBSA’s denial of ministerial relief for Selvakumaran, emphasizing national security and public safety concerns. Selvakumaran, who once admitted to distributing LTTE propaganda during his U.K. asylum process, later retracted that claim, blaming poor legal advice.
Despite calls for resignation, Prime Minister Mark Carney has defended Anandasangaree, affirming that the minister has been transparent and continues to have his full support.
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