On 17th January, several British parliamentarians gathered with the British Tamil community to celebrate the Tamil harvest festival of Pongal, at the House of Parliament. Parliamentarians included Sir Barry Gardiner, the Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade, Robert Halfon, parliamentarian and Chair of the Education Committee and Ed Davey, co-Leader of the Liberal Democrats.
“Whilst we have gathered to celebrate this joyous occasion, we should remember our friends, our Tamil brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka who are still under oppression, discrimination, harassment and who still don’t get their human rights or political rights, acknowledged by the government in Colombo. After the recent election, when we saw President Rajapaksa elected – and we know his record – we worry even more,” said Sir Ed Davey.
