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Colombo has a stronghold on North-East of Sri Lanka: Interview with APPG-T Chair James Berry

 

 

As discussions on how to deal with the findings of the UN investigation into Sri Lanka’s mass atrocities (OISL) reach fever pitch, the newly elected chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils, James Berry, spoke to the Tamil Guardian last week.

Speaking ahead of the release of the UN report into mass atrocities and after meeting the Chief Minister of the Northern Province, the APPG-T chair reiterated calls for normalcy in the North-East and stressed the need for any process to deal with the findings of the OISL to have the full confidence of the victims.

TG: What influenced your decision to become the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils and how has your tenure been so far?

The Tamil community plays a very important part in the life of the borough and contribute at every level of society, from being the Council's deputy leader to doctors in the NHS, shop owners and other successful business people.

I have the opportunity to engage with the Tamil people through my everyday life but have also had the opportunity to attend Pongal celebrations at Tamil schools in my borough. Just recently there was a massive Tamil school sports day which was a great thing to be a part of.

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