Sri Lankan activists seek Brit MPs' support for 'Global Tamil Forum'

London, Feb 25(ANI): Several Sri Lankan activists will hold meetings with senior British politicians, including Foreign Secretary David Miliband and his shadow counterpart William Hague, in London to promote a new campaign for the ethnic Tamils crushed in the South Asian country's civil war.

Miliband and Hague are among the MPs in what is a cross-party sign of support for the Global Tamil Forum for recognition following the end to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) conflict last year.

The LTTE fought a separatist war in Sri Lanka for decades hoping for the creating of an independent homeland for Tamils, but in May last year, government forces seized the last areas controlled by the rebels.

The Tamils claim that thousands were killed in the battle, although nobody can independently verify exactly how many people died and the government disputes this figure.

However, tens of thousands were driven into makeshift camps or fled from the country, including to Britain.

The new forum says it is a non-violent organization, which wants to campaign for self-determination for Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamils.

Meanwhile, a Foreign Office spokesman said: "The UK firmly believes that the only way to achieve lasting and equitable peace in Sri Lanka is through genuine national reconciliation."

"The UK will engage with all members of the Sri Lankan community who share this goal whether overseas or in Sri Lanka," the Sky News quoted the spokesman, as saying. (ANI)