Hundreds of Sri Lankans converge to support President

Walter Jayawardhana

Hundreds of Sri Lankan expatriates converged at Marlborough Palace in London where the Commonwealth Mini Summit was held greeted President Mahinda Rajapaksa and protested against the LTTE terrorism brazenly practiced against civilians.

Assembled in front of the meeting hall members of nearly ten organisations were waving noisy slogans, waving colourful lion flags, and holding placards greeting the President's anti-terrorist activities. Anura Medagedara, one of the organisers said the Sri Lankan expatriates of London, is appealing to all Commonwealth leaders to help Sri Lanka crush one of the most heinous terrorist movements of the world which is using suicide bombs against civilians.

Another organiser Rani Bulathwela said that certain NGOs like the Amnesty International are not focusing on the abuse of human rights by terrorist organisations like the LTTE who are and focusing on vested interests of the terrorist organisations.

The demonstrators led by one who was shouting slogans with a megaphone shouted: Prabhakaran-Killer with suicide bombs.

The placards the demonstrators carried read: 52% of Tamils live in Colombo, LTTE stop killing Muslims in Sri Lanka, Well done President for Restoring Democracy in Sri Lanka, LTTE violates all human rights, Stop Recruiting Child Soldiers, Well done President for Restoring Democracy in the East.

Geetha Erandathi , a young nanny from Clapham Junction of Central London, said, "I have been living in England for six years, I came to shout for my country because I love my country.

Another demonstrator, a 76 year woman who has been living here for 15 years, Leela Pathirana said, "We need to liberate the country from the terrorists. I want to encourage our President to do it and hand over a free country to our children. That's why I came for the demonstration.