Mass Sri Lankan Peace March in London
[Updated]
(By: Krishan D. Bulathsinghala, UK)
It was another jubilant victory for the patriotic Sri
Lankans in the UK when they took to the streets of London waving flags
of the Lion, yesterday (June 27).
The mass Peace March was organised to commemorate the
dawning of peace in Sri Lanka and to show the strength of the Sri Lankan
Diaspora in UK who wholeheartedly is grateful of the ending of Terrorism
in motherland.
The procession consisted of all races, faiths and
walks of life upholding solidarity amidst the threats of LTTE operatives
in London. Despite short notice, crowds gathered in Tothill Street since
11.30am and started moving at 1.00pm towards Embankment via Broad
Sanctuary, Parliament Square, Whitehall, Downing Street, Back to
Victoria, covering 2 miles of a walk.
'Journey towards peace and unity in Sri Lanka, Sri
Lankans lets march forward as one nation', a few of the banners read.
Furthermore, the march carried a banner of President Hon.Mahinda
Rajapaksa, who launched the victorious humanitarian operations with the
greatest opposition of certain western countries including the UK, being
under the spell of LTTE lobbyists and propaganda. Nevertheless it's
common knowledge that UK extended military assistance to the armed
forces of Sri Lanka worth millions of pounds
Halfway through the march a petition with hundreds of
signatures, addressed to the Prime Minister Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP was
handed in at his residence, no.10, Downing Street.
The petition recognised the British Government's
support to eliminate terrorism in Sri Lanka by having listed the LTTE as
banned organisation in the UK. On the other hand it spoke of shortfalls
of the British government to implement the Anti-Terrorism act against
LTTE supporters in UK. Further it requested the halting of all Anti-Sri
Lankan activities taking place, bringing false allegations based on
distorted information. A few requests are as:
-
To take action decisively to stop anti-Sri Lankan
campaigns organised by the pro-LTTE elements, which leads to
polarization of communities destroying the foundations of multi-cultureralism.
-
To support initiatives taken by the government of
Sri Lanka to restore peace and harmony in Sri Lanka which is a
former colony, a friendly and a founder member of the commonwealth.
-
To extend UK's fullest cooperation to Sri Lanka in
multi-lateral fora in its endeavours.
LTTE supporters in London have been occupying the
Westminster parliament square for months carrying out illegal protest
and hunger strikes, misleading the British public with banners, posters
and LTTE flags. They have turned out be an eye soar in the heart of
London inconveniencing the flow of traffic and pedestrians in the area,
not to mention the devastating affects on tourism. It is a well-known
fact that a few politicians are encouraging these activities in return
for votes and other favours.
Tributes were paid to the gallant forces of Sri Lanka
and the police who made huge sacrifices to rescue the innocent Tamil
civilians and country from the clutches of separatist Tamil Tiger
terrorism.
The march ended at the Embankment with a vote of
thanks being delivered by the organisers of the event, Sri Lankans
Against Terrorism (SLAT), UK, who has become victims of LTTE assaults
recently. They thankfully acknowledge the presence of all despite their
personal commitments.
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