Diaspora engagement with young Sri Lanka MP’S

by Victor Cherubim

( October 30, 2012, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) A follow up current visit by an interparty, young parliamentarian (under 40) delegation from Sri Lanka from Government (SLFP), Opposition (UNP) and a representative from TNA was facilitated by the Royal Commonwealth Society, International Alert and One Text Initiative, after their earlier exploratory visit to UK in December 2011. The findings of their first visit formed the basis of a Joint report recently circulated to their fellow M.P’s and the Government on the UK Tamil diaspora interest in Sri Lanka. Though the MP’s feel it is a slow process, the dialogue has commenced.

"Although years have gone and the dead cannot be brought back, if some recommendations aimed at securing greater confidence building among the diaspora are considered, it will be a way forward"

The meeting was organised by Tamil Information Centre, London as previous. The delegation met a cross section of the diaspora in Kingston, a suburb of London on 27 October 2012. There were more women than men at the meeting, reflecting a widespread concern for women victims of war and unresolved issues back home. It was an organised, on-confrontation gathering without official hard-line diaspora organisation representation. Tamil organisations, such as GTF, BTF, Transnational Government in exile and others were conspicuous by their absence. It was anybody’s guess whether they were invited or wanted to participate or have been marginalised.

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