We today affirm a principle that is common to all humankind: the right of a people to choose.

Tamil Eelam exists because we do.

The referendum for Tamil Eelam continues across the globe: Britain with its historical ties is but one more link in that chain.

Tamil Eelam exists because a scattered and oppressed people has chosen. As in 1977 but this time from across all the corners of the earth.

We assert a principle that has been formulated time and again in history, not least by the founding fathers of America and our own Thanthai Chelva. To quote Tom Paine: “The fact therefore must be that the individuals themselves, each in his own personal and sovereign right, entered into a compact with each other to produce a government: and this is the only mode in which governments have a right to arise, and the only principle on which they have a right to exist …"

We have today entered into a compact. We, the living, have mandated Tamil Eelam.

 And in doing so we honour those who have died in the vanni and elsewhere, those who have died for our deepest dream, the dream of Tamil Eelam.

We say to them: you remain in our hearts. Though the world may deny you, we do not, for today, we say again that your dream is our dream.

They tried to destroy us: they bombed us, they starved us, they killed our children, destroyed our hospitals and killed the wounded and maimed.

But they have failed

And Tamil Eelam lives.

We cannot dedicate. We cannot consecrate.

It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who died for Eelam have thus far advanced. As Lincoln said, so say we: that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom.