“The richness and generosity of the Tamil community overflows, bringing light and hope to the entire country.” These were the Prime Minister’s words to the British Tamil community at Thai Pongal, the Tamil harvest festival, last year – they have stayed with me every day since.
As Member of Parliament for Stratford and Bow, and the first person of Tamil heritage to be elected as an MP, I am privileged to meet Tamils who are serving our country in every field and in every single walk of life.
Whether it’s visiting schools and hospitals or meeting with business leaders, academics and creatives - everywhere I go, I meet British Tamils who are carving new paths, breaking barriers, and achieving incredible things.
I also hear the stories of families who, like my parents, fled Sri Lanka in search of safety. The common thread that binds all of us together is the dreams our parents have for us, and that we have for the next generation.
For a diaspora who have rebuilt after war, so many of us feel the trauma carried by a generation who saw, and survived, the worst of humanity – and who are determined to succeed and build new legacies.
The courage and resilience of the Tamil community cannot be understated. So too our calls for justice endure.
One of my first acts as an MP was to call for Magnitsky-style sanctions on Sri Lankan war criminals. Last year, after 15 long years of silence from the previous British Government, the new Foreign Secretary imposed sanctions targeting some of the worst perpetrators of heinous war crimes against the Tamil people. This was an important turning point, affirming that impunity will not be tolerated.
Yet each year that passes, there are fresh reminders of the atrocities committed against the Tamil people. This year, the discovery of mass graves in Chemmani has wrought new pain; it is something that I raised directly with the Foreign Secretary.
Justice is not a choice but a necessity, and it is a humanitarian issue. I was reminded of this powerfully when I met Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in Parliament. Last year, he visited Chemmani to meet the family members of those whose loved ones were taken – families who have long been denied answers. He has seen the pain of the Tamil people and, like so many of the international leaders I meet in my work as a Member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, he has heard the voice of the Tamil diaspora.
Each conversation is a reminder that the Tamil community does not struggle alone in its pursuit of truth and justice – and of our power when we stand together. As the Prime Minister said, our history and heritage are reminders of the importance of community and solidarity.
I’ve been so grateful for the outpouring of support and solidarity that Tamils have extended to me since I was elected. I am determined to repay their faith in me by continuing to fight for our voices to be heard at the heart of Government.
The Prime Minister is right: our stories, our resilience, and the generosity of the Tamil community brings light to every corner of the UK. As the Kuthu Vilakku brings light to our homes, and as we mark Tamil New Year and our new hopes and dreams for the year ahead, I want to send my warmest wishes to Tamil families here in Britain and around the world. Together, we are achieving great things – Iniya Puthandu Vazthukal!
