Hundreds demonstrate and confront Keith Vaz in London

Walter JAYAWARDHANA

Several hundred Sri Lankans demonstrated opposite the office of Keith Vaz MP demanding that he stop misrepresenting developments in Sri Lanka to please the Tigers.

“Listen listen Keith Vaz-Dont help suicide bombers, Listen listen Mr. Vaz-All Tamils are not Tigers” the demonstrators shouted in a chorus. “Mr. Vaz listen to us - terrorists are not for kisses”, they advised the politician.

In response to the allegations by the demonstrators Mr. Vaz said he was representing the views of thousands of Tamils in his electorate and no opposing view had been conveyed to him before.

He said he had never been allowed inside the country for him to witness for himself. Ven. Handupelpola Mahinda Thera on behalf of the demonstrators told Vaz in his office that despite the impression among Sri lankans that Britishers are for fair play and justice a handful of British politicians merely betray the truth for the sake of a few votes.

Chrishantha Peiris, a Leicester organiser of the demonstration questioned Vaz why he quotes every conceivable individual to attack Sri Lanka but did not want to quote John Holmes of the United Nations who saw the atrocities done by the Tamil Tigers to the fleeing Tamils.

Anura Medagedera, Nethsiri Wijratne, Chanaka Dissanayaka, Ajantha Haloluwage and Krishantha Bulathsinhala are the others who joined the discussion with Keith Vaz. Anrua Medagedera said he wanted Keith Vaz to visit Sri Lanka and see for himself the ground reality there to which he responded positively.