Canada denies printing Tiger stamp

Canadian authorities have insisted that a stamp with a Tamil tiger symbol was not printed by them following protests from the Sri Lankan government, a statement by the External Affairs Minister said on Tuesday. Following reports on the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eeelam ( LTTE) affiliated websites on the alleged issue of a personalized stamp by Canada Post Corporation promoting the LTTE's separatist agenda which also includes a reference to "genocide", the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Canada has protested through two letters. One was to Minister Denis Lebel, responsible for Canada Post Corporation and the other to Canada Post President Deepak Chopra. According to the statement, Chopra has reviewed the matter and insisted that the contentious stamp was never printed by Canada Post. He has also initiated an investigation into how the stamps came into circulation. "This stamp was not printed by our picture postage program and is in no way part of our official philatelic program which goes through a very careful selection process including approval by our Board of Directors," he was quoted as saying in the statement. Stamps depicting LTTE leader V. Parabakaran and the Tiger symbol were reported from France as well and the Sri Lankan government has expressed its displeasure and refusal to allow it to circulate within the country.