Tamil Diaspora Group Calls On Sri Lanka To Establish A ‘Ministry For Overseas Sri Lankan Affairs’

June 9, 2015

A Tamil diaspora group urged the Sri Lankan Government to establish a ‘Ministry for Overseas Sri Lankan affairs’.

The Non Resident Tamils of Sri Lanka (NRTSL) a group lobbying to promote the interests of Non-Resident Tamils of Sri Lankan origin in the UK organised a event to launch their cause on the 31st of May 2015. This event took place at the Barn Hill Community Centre, Hayes, Middlesex. 

The meeting was chaired by the interim Chairman of the association V. Sivalingam. Barry Gardiner MP was also present.

Following is the text of the speech by one of its founder members, Shanthan Thamba, outlining the objectives of the organisation.

Good Evening!

Our guest of honour Right honourable Barry Gardener MP

Friends, Ladies and gentlemen

First of all I would like to welcome you all once again on behalf of the NRTSL for making this effort to be here this evening. I know how precious Sunday evening is, and I appreciate that extra effort that you made to be here today. We will try our best not to disappoint you.

I must also thank my colleagues and the founder members of the NRTSL for giving me this opportunity to outline the objectives and the vision of the NRTSL.

I will try to do this as best as I can; within the time I was given.

I am aware that all of you have a fairly wide ranging understanding and experience of the Tamil expatriate social and political scene here in the UK.

The objective of this meeting today is to share with you the origins of the idea of the NRTSL and also to listen to your valuable opinions and contributions to further develop this concept.

Those who are here today are all invited by the founder members of the NRTSL. In our opinion…. you are all active in the community in different spheres and also have a desire to move our community forward.

I must also say that the NRTSL is still in its formative stage and the direction and the effectiveness of it will be influenced and shaped by your inputs and positive contributions.

In other words this is an opportunity for us to tell you what we are trying to achieve.

More importantly we would like to listen to your views about this idea and also your suggestions about how to move forward.                                                  Read More