Photo: @Halfon4HarlowMP

British Conservative MPs condemned the genocide faced by Tamils in Sri Lanka, pledging to work towards a political solution that would end the oppression, at the first Conservative Party community event of the 2015 election campaign.

Speaking at a summer fundraising event held by the British Tamil Conservatives on Friday, the MPs addressed several Tamil supporters, as well as professionals and entrepreneurs, over a light dinner.

Robert Halfon, the MP for Harlow, said Tamils continued to face genocide at the hands of the Sri Lankan state, a view that was endorsed by the other MPs present.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and MP for Barnet, Theresa Villiers, stressed that a ‘political solution acceptable to Tamils,’ would be required to address the ongoing rights violations in the North-East of Sri Lanka.

Conservative MP for Ilford North, Lee Scott, reiterated calls to end the genocide of Tamils and pledged to continue working with the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPGT), which he chairs, to fight for justice and an end to the genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka. The MP further added that he would be speaking to the Minister of State for the Foreign Office, Hugo Swire, this week, to highlight issues pertaining to the oppression of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Speaking on the upcoming End Sexual Violence in Conflict Global Summit, MP for Thurrock, Jackie Doyle-Price, stressed the need to highlight the plight of Tamil women that suffered sexual violence during the conflict and after the conflict.

The speakers ended the night by thanking the British Tamil Conservatives for hosting their first community event and pledged to continue working for the Tamil community in the UK.

The Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, due to be hosted by the British Foreign Secretary William Hague and UN Special Envoy for Refugees Anjelina Jolie, is due to take place in London this week.

See related articles:

Sexual Violence in Conflict: Sri Lanka (09 June 2014)