During her first speech in the Canadian parliament she claimed to be the first Tamil person to be elected to any federal parliament outside India or Sri Lanka, which was incorrect, as there have been Tamils elected to federal parliaments in both Malaysia and Singapore for years.
During her first speech in the Canadian parliament she claimed, "the very first female Tamil member of parliament in the world outside of India and Sri Lanka". There have been Tamils elected to parliaments in both Malaysia and Singapore for years.