Identifying the elegance of the Tamil heritage, the British Tamils Forum (BTF) began its steps to enhance the knowledge to the Tamil diaspora and to make aware to the world at large of the sophistication of the deep-rooted Tamil heritage. Thus, the BTF launched its pioneer move with the Thai Pongal celebration in association with London Borrow of Harrow in 2011. 

In the following years, the BTF collaborated with several community organisations and continued demonstrating the prosperity of the Tamil heritage, following the Tamil phrase of its invaluable script, “யாதும் ஊரே யாவரும் கேளீர்”, of which the near translation is, “All places are one and all people are our kin.” and this the fundamental concept of brotherhood and equality. 

In subsequent years up to 2017 the BTF promoted the participation of Tamil youths, by celebrating Thai Pongal in its own premises, where several interested Tamil youths and Tamil community representatives took part with great enthusiasm. BTF was proud that several Members of Parliament representing Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats participated in 2018 event organized in the House of Parliament. Many MPs started wearing the Tamil traditional dress of Vetti and shawls in these events.

The BTF’s celebrations in 2019,2020 and 2021 were predominantly carried out by the Tamil youths with of traditional folk dances, and other cultural activities and they named those events as “The Tamil Youth Cherishing Rich Heritage” in 2019 and then “The Tamil Heritage Month” in 2020 and “Self-Reliance in Tamil Heritage” in 2021.

On each occasion the BTF invited politicians including many cross party members of parliament and councillors with the purpose of bringing the value of the Tamil Heritage to the core members of the British soil. The BTF is now very proud that the Tamil Heritage and the Tamil peoples’ aspirations have been gaining increased recognition by the British Members of Parliament, other politicians and institutions. Their participation to the Thai Pongal celebration over the period is not only at USA an increase but also their hospitalities are overwhelming. 

The BTF is very pleased that the Tamils for Labour, the Conservative Friends of Tamils, the Tamil Friends of Liberal Democrats, and many representatives of the British Tamil community joined its 2022 celebration. It is also proud that its 2022 event was well attended, which includes several people from other countries, especially from the USA, the EU, Canada, Australia and India despite their different time zones.

The BTF conveys its sincere gratitude to the London Assembly for passing a motion of “January as the Tamil Heritage Month” that the BTF originated in Britain. 

While the Tamil heritage is being preserved and treasured around the world, it is alarming that the Tamil heritage in North and East of the island is subjected to premeditated and calculated destruction by the Sri Lankan state for many years. With the end of the civil war in 2009, and the emergence of Rajapaksa regime in Sri Lanka, such destruction has been at an alarming increase. 

BTF’s success in pioneering the Tamil heritage in the United Kingdom and other countries, will not be complete, unless the Tamil diaspora and international community get together to protect the heritage in Tamil peoples’ homeland of North and East of Sri Lanka.

This colorful event included a presentation about Tamil heritage by Dr Siva Thiyagaraja presented by Kaveesha, speech by Professor Jeyanthasri Balakrishnan from Tamil Nadu, Silampam, presentation about Emperor Raja Raja Chozhan by Dr Kavitha Ganeshan Tamil Nadu, beautiful songs by Voice Art students and other Youngsters, Voice of Parai, beautiful dance performance by disciples of Pathmini Gunaseelan and Thirukural presentation by youth from ‘Nalvar Tamil Academy’.

The salient points of the Members of Parliament Speeches 

1. The Right Hon David Lammy MP for Tottenham, Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

Upon wishing happy Thai Pongal, David conveyed his gratitude to the Tamil community in the UK for their dedication and contribution to the entire country especially those who work at the research of Astra Zeneca and working on the frontline at this difficult time of Corona pandemic. 

As the first speaker at the event, David touched several sensitive aspirations of the Tamil community in the UK, among the many things David’s remarks such as, the struggle to the Tamil people in their homeland of Sri Lanka is tremendous, establishing accountability has been long-outstanding, it was shamefulness that 13 years have passed from the end of the war in 2009 with no actions, there has to be a steadfast commitment to ensure the fundamental democracy in the island, and he is committed to support to the UNHRC’s actions and to take the matter to the International Criminal Court, were strongly supported by the all the follow-up speakers in the event.

David concluded his speech by confirming his support to enforce Magnitsky styled sanctions against the perpetrators, under the Global Human Rights Regime.

2. Janet Daby MP – Lewisham East

Conveying her privilege to take part in Thai Pongal celebration, Janet expressed her sadness that the Tamil peoples’ relatives were not enjoy the same freedom in their homeland. 

By agreeing with the facts of Rt Hon David Lammy’s speech, Janet further commented that the atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan government is massive and she would push the UK government put bilateral pressure on Sri Lanka to place Magnitsky styled sanctions on accused Sri Lankan war criminals. Janet assured that she would continue to stand with our struggle for justice for the atrocities and genocide committed against Tamils. 

Janet concluded her speech by saying that her voice in the UK parliament would be the Tamils’ voice to seek a political solution in Sri Lanka. Janet encouraged the BTF and the Tamil people to keep campaigning and fighting for justice.

3. The Rt. Hon. Stephen Timms MP for East Ham, Vice Chair of APPG for Tamils

After confirming all what David Lammy and Janet Daby had already said in their speeches, Stephen added that he woiuld continue to press for an International Independent Investigation on Sri Lanka of what happened at the end of the war in 2009. Stephen thanked the hundreds of Tamil businesses for contributing their services in his constituency and finished his speech by saying that he would continue to support to the Tamil community in the parliament for establishing justice.

4. The Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP for Chipping Barnet, Vice Chair of APPG for Tamils

Theresa started her speech with a huge gratitude to all those Tamil Doctors, Nurses, care workers and all the Tamils who played their part in getting us through this very long held emergency, the COVID pandemic. 

Commenting that we were meeting on the first ever Tamil heritage Month highlighted by the Prime Minister in his Thai Pongal message, Theresa thanked the London Assembly for their decision to celebrate January as the Tamil Heritage month. Theresa referred the David Cameron’s visit to Jaffna was a historical event and expressed her concern that it was heart-breaking that 13 years have passed with no solution. Theresa referred the Sri Lanka government is scandalous for not abiding with the UNHRC Resolutions 30/1 and 40/1. She welcomed the new resolution 46/1 at the UNHRC.

Theresa ended her speech by stating that she would strongly join others to impose Magnitsky sanctions against the perpetrators, under the Global Human Rights Regime as a great step and assured to continue her campaign for the justice and accountability to the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. Theresa was proud to call herself as a friend of Tamil community and will continue to fight for justice for the Tamil community.

5. Anne McLaughlin MP – Glasgow Northeast, Shadow SNP Spokesperson for Justice

Upon ascertaining that she would echo what the previous speakers said and expressing her disbelief that 13 years have passed to date since the end of the war in Sri Lanka, Anne recited her devastating memories of visiting IDP camps in 2018. 

Anne raised her concern that no proper action has been taken place and no reconciliation has been actioned to date. On behalf of Scottish National Party (SNP) she assured their support for the search for justice.

6. Catherine West MP – Hornsey & Woodgreen, Shadow Minister for Asia and Pacific

Catherine, after wishing happy Thai Pongal to everyone, confirmed that they all would be united to uphold UNHRC Resolutions 30/1, 40/1 and 46/1 to uphold justice and accountability. Assuring to support David Lammy in his work, Catherine also assured her support to the crime against humanity and they all, as a parliament, would stand up with the Tamil community to ensure that we are on their side.

Catherine shared the message of Alan Whitehead, Member of Parliament representing Southampton, Shadow Minister for Energy and the Green New Deal.

7. The Rt Hon Sir Edward Davey MP FRSA, Kingston & Surbiton, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Vice Chair of APPG for Tamils

Acknowledging the traditional and historical values of Tamil heritage and the great roles played by the British Tamil community to the country, Edward said that he put a motion in the House of Parliament to formally recognise January as “Tamil Heritage month” and he would expect to attract support across all parties in the parliament. 

Referring to the Tamil peoples’ struggle in Sri Lanka and 13 years passed after the end of the war, Edward stated that although there were some progresses in the UN, the situation in Sri Lanka has been worsening.  

Edward voiced that not only the application of Magnitsky style sanctions to Sri Lanka was important but also on trade deals too.  Sri Lanka has been in breach of its international obligations. Edward further added that the reinstatement of the GSP+ facility to Sri Lanka by the EU in 2016 was a great mistake. 

Edward continued emphasising the need for an international investigation mechanism so those committed atrocities and genocide can be held to account.  

By stating that the UK government could do a lot to establish democracy in the island and to fight for a political solution to the Tamil people in Sri Lanka and assuring to stand by the Tamil people Edward concluded his speech. Edward ended his speech by stating that they would work with us, the British Tamils Forum, and others for an international mechanism, demilitarisation and political solution.

8. Paul Scully, MP for Sutton & Cheam, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets, Former Chair of APPG for Tamils

Praising the London Assembly for its recognition of January as the Tamil Heritage month, Paul complemented the Tamil people for their hard work and playing part in the NHS at every level. Paul continued stating that he would support all moves for the reconciliation process for the Tamil people live in Sri Lanka peacefully, travel freely without human rights abuses that have still been seen, heard and reported. Paul concluded by stating to support the UN Resolutions to get justice to the Tamil people and emphasise the Sri Lankan government to answer to all the outstanding issues in the year 2022.

9. Wes Streeting, MP for Ilford North, Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Vice Chair of APPG for Tamils

After greeting all Thai Pongal wishes, Wes said that he was proud of the Tamil people as their play in businesses, culture and the NHS is paramount. Wes said that he was proud to see the Tamil people’s determination towards their cause. Referring to the present Sri Lankan government is very challenging, Wes stated that the support of the cross-party members would be needed to seek justice to the Tamil people. 

Wes concluded his speech by stating that he would extend his support to David Lammy, Labour leader Keir Starmer, Edward Davey, and other speakers to seek justice to the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. Despite being the Shadow Health Secretary with limitations, Wes guaranteed to remain a friend and firm supporter of the campaign of Tamils.

10. Sam Tarry MP – Ilford South, Shadow Minister for Buses and Local Transport, Vice Chair of APPG for Tamils

Sam, upon referring to the denial of basic human rights to the Tamil people by the Sri Lankan state, he recalled his memory of over 100,000 Tamils marching in condemnation of genocide and atrocities in Sri Lanka. By stating the need to use the powers we have here in the UK to put pressure for changes in Sri Lanka, Sam remarked that we could not just be blindly do trade deals. 

Sam continued to say that he has been talking to the Tamils how to build the campaign nationally and internationally for Human rights of Tamils.

By assuring his readiness to stand shoulder to shoulder in absolute solidarity with the Tamil community in their quest for justice and self-determination, Sam emphasised the application of sanctions like those found in the Magnitsky Act against those engaged in atrocity crimes in Sri Lanka. There must be a political solution recognizing the right to self-determination of Tamils. 

Sam concluded his speech by wishing a free demilitarised Tamil homeland in the island of Sri Lanka soon. 

11. Jeyaranjan, Mayor elect for Redbridge Council

Councillor Jeyranjan informed a motion would be moved in the Redbridge Council recognising Tamil Heritage Month.

12. James Murray MP – Ealing North, Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury

James, after wishing a very happy Thai Pongal to the Tamil community in my constituency of Ealing North and to everyone marking the harvest celebration in the UK and around the world, he confirmed to stand in solidarity with the Tamil community in their struggle for accountability, justice, and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. James concluded by blessing this harvest festival to bring the Tamil people health, peace, prosperity and by greeting “Pongal Vazhthukkal!”

13. Thangam  Debbonaire MP – Bristol West, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons

Joined the event and conveyed her best wishes to the Tamil community.

14. Ben Everitt MP – Milton Keyns North

Joined the event and conveyed his best wishes to the Tamil community.

15. Siobhain McDonagh MP – Mitcham and Morden, Vice Chair of APPG for Tamils

Expressing that important steps were taken forward in 2021 with the new UN resolution, Siobhan said that it didn’t go far enough. Siobhain by sharing the pain that is being felt acutely by the Tamil community, she remarked that the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother, Gotabaya, have been the present-day link to the atrocities of the past and to this day, no one has been held accountable for international crimes committed. 

Raising that 13 long years have passed since the end of the Sri Lankan civil war, Siobhain stated that she has been standing and would continue to stand alongside the Tamil community on their road to truth, justice and accountability. Siobhain ascertained that the Labour Party has been clear that it would always stand by the Tamil community in their pursuit of justice for Sri Lanka to begin building a lasting and sustainable peace.

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Sri Lankan gemstones were showcased at a glamorous event hosted by the Embassy in Beijing on 17 January, 2022. Sponsored by the ‘LARWINER – Gem Art Jewellery’, a range of stunning Sri Lankan blue sapphires and other coloured stones were displayed. Around 100 invited guests including many elite dealers attended the event.

“LARWINER – Gem Art Jewelry” sought to promote Sri Lanka’s superb sapphires and also the gem industry.

The Embassy has been organizing a range of events in conjunction with the celebration of the 65^th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and the 70^th Anniversary of the Rubber-Rice Pact. Earlier, a well-attended tourism event and a media event were hosted at the Embassy.

The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to China Dr. Palitha Kohona while welcoming the guests, explained the history of Sri Lankan gem trade and the mining process, cutting, polishing and jewellery making. He invited the guests to visit Sri Lanka to witness these for themselves. The Ambassador said that mini exhibitions of this nature will be organized in the future as well and hoped that exhibitors from Sri Lanka also will participate.

Proprietor of the LARWINER Mei Mei said that she has been importing coloured gemstones from Sri Lanka for a long time and found that these were of very high quality compared to the gemstones from other countries. Especially, the sapphires, from Sri Lanka were of superb quality and more than 90% the stones sold in China were the top sapphires from Sri Lanka.

The LARWINER Exhibition gave the audience the opportunity to understand officially certified sapphires and other coloured gemstones of Sri Lanka.

During the Exhibition, there was a lucky draw where many participants won precious jewellery gifted by LARWINER. The Exhibition was concluded with a lavish Sri Lankan style dinner offered to all the participants by the Ambassador.

Embassy of Sri Lanka

Beijing

24 January 2022

Sri Lanka, the Indian Ocean littoral state whose economy primarily depends on tourism, has been ravaged by debt and a depleted foreign exchange reserve, to the point that the country has been staring at a massive food and fuel shortage.

The pandemic aggravated the economic crisis that was already brewing since 2019. While the island nation reached out to two of its most trusted partners, only one came to its rescue.

The country’s Energy Minister, Uday Gammanapila, released a statement on January 17 claiming that the entire country would be plunged into darkness by January 19, according to the Daily Mirror. Due to fuel scarcity in Sri Lanka, the Sapugasakanda Thermal Power Station was forced to stop operations.

India reached out to help to save its neighbor from drowning in darkness. According to the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, New Delhi has offered Colombo $500 million to purchase petroleum products as it stares at a potential country-wide blackout owing to fuel shortage.

A friend holds out a helping hand again!!!Energizing bilateral economic partnership,#India offers a credit line of USD 500 mn to 🇱🇰 for purchase of petroleum products.Critical support by 🇮🇳 follows a discussion between EAM @DrSJaishankar &Hon'ble Fin Minister @RealBRajapaksa 1/2 pic.twitter.com/5YrHee1VuI

— India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) January 18, 2022

India’s aid came at an opportune moment. This assistance comes over and above the credit previously pledged by India to assuage Sri Lanka’s economic woes.

Earlier, after the meeting between the Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, both sides had come up with a “four-pronged” plan that comprised lines of credit for fuel, food, and medication imports, currency swaps and debt deferrals from India to Sri Lanka, and the completion of the Trinco-oil farms project.

Sri Lanka’s Dilapidated Economy

India extended a $900 million loan and another $1.5 billion for two credit lines to help Sri Lanka purchase food and fuel. When the decision for aid was taken, Colombo was yet to decide whether to pay the debt to the tune of $500 million or heed the calls regarding deferring it in order to meet the urgent requirements within the country.

Not paying the loans would have resulted in a default. It was a test for Sri Lanka, whose credit ratings had been downgraded.

Finally, the Sri Lankan Central bank announced on January 18, 2022, that the country had repaid a $500 million international sovereign bond (ISB) that was due for settlement, preventing a major default in the midst of the island nation’s increasing forex crisis and spiraling external debt.

Nevertheless, the Indian aid came at a moment when Sri Lanka desperately needed it and helped it decide whether it could afford to make the repayment or not.

❗️Daily power cuts that last about 04 hours are likely if Sri Lanka fails to secure a large USD loan at least by March 2022.

Country must be prepared to make sacrifices now itself, and politicians should lead by example. 

– Minister of Energy @UPGammanpila #lka #SriLanka

— Dasuni Athauda (@AthaudaDasuni) January 21, 2022

The Indian Ocean island is currently facing its worst economic crisis in history which includes a credit crunch, a drop in GDP due to COVID-19 losses in tourism, exports, and remittances, dwindling foreign reserves from $7.5 billion in 2019 to $1.6 billion in November 2021, and looming debt repayments of more than $7 billion in 2022. While it has paid the current debt, there’s another payment due in July this year.

Sri Lanka had apparently approached two of its closest partners, India and China. While India provided the requisite assistance, China remained non-committal on Colombo’s request.

Interestingly, a major chunk of the debt that Sri Lanka is supposed to settle this year involves Chinese loans. Foreign analysts have long highlighted how the island nation has suffered under the Chinese debt trap.

China’s Lukewarm Response

Sri Lanka is a key part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and in a way, its most convenient gateway into the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Over the previous decade, China has provided Sri Lanka more than $5 billion (£3.7 billion) for infrastructure projects such as roads, airports, and ports. However, detractors claim that the funds were spent on ineffective initiatives with minuscule returns.

After international financial markets, the Asian Development Bank, and Japan, China is Sri Lanka’s fourth-largest lender. It is widely known how Beijing has gained control of its strategic assets such as the Hambantota Port and the Colombo Port city using its debt trap.

Earlier this month, the Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi was on a visit to Sri Lanka when the latter made a slew of demands to China so as to tide over the economic crisis. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa reportedly asked China to look at debt restructuring.

Sri Lanka recently announced it was in talks with Beijing for a large loan from China to meet its massive debt. #AFDaily

For the day’s biggest economic stories from Asia, read our newsletter: https://t.co/9eMyYmf0Sp pic.twitter.com/UX8qlUROOB

— Asia Financial (@Asia_Financial) January 19, 2022

China was also asked to provide “concessional” terms for its exports to Sri Lanka, which totaled roughly $3.5 billion last year, according to the statement, but no further details were provided, according to a BBC report.

While Beijing reportedly agreed to a currency swap amounting to $1.5 billion, it has effectively ignored the demand from Colombo regarding a look at debt restructuring.

China, Sri Lanka pledge to further develop bilateral relations, carrying forward spirit of the Rubber-Rice Pact https://t.co/lkl9avdj0i pic.twitter.com/HybUytUCJE

— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) January 10, 2022

The West has often labeled the Chinese lending to Sri Lanka as a broad effort at debt-trapping the country with the intention of acquiring its strategic assets.

“The Chinese have started a line of criticism saying US and Indian media are hyping SL’s debt trap and that this is really the result of SL’s own borrowing over the years, improper management and because of the impact of the terrorist attacks in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The claim is China is only Sri Lanka’s fourth-largest creditor after international financial institutions, the Asian Development Bank and Japan. Conveniently ignored here is the fact of the pace of growth of this debt owed to China – China has become a major creditor in a very short space of time,” Jabin T Jacob, Associate Professor, Department of International Relations and Governance Studies, Shiv Nadar University, told The EurAsian Times.

“Also ignored is the fact that SL had never before been forced to sign over sovereign territory for a 99-year lease. And China was a willing party to this arrangement despite its own history of the ‘century of humiliation during which the Qing empire had to lease various parts of its territory over to Western colonial powers, also, in instances for 99 years.

“The overall idea seems to be to blame the West for its colonial past, to badmouth the US and India for their apparently hegemonic intentions while expecting everyone to ignore China’s own recent history of territorial aggression and aggrandizement. This one-sided narrative is gaining increasing purchase in India’s neighborhood because of the sheer effort the Chinese government is putting into propaganda not just in English but in local languages, too”, Jacob added.

Sri Lanka was compelled to lease the Hambantota Port to the state-owned China Merchants agency for 99 years after it was unable to repay its annual EMI on the Chinese loan.

Perhaps Sri Lankans could be starting to notice that something similar is happening in the port city of Colombo, where a $1.4 billion investment by China Harbor Engineering Company to reclaim 660 acres of land has resulted in the Chinese firm receiving 43 percent of the project on a 99-year lease, according to the Print.

Indian Resurgence

Sri Lanka is facing an uphill task balancing its ties with India and China simultaneously. Earlier, it handed over the East Container Terminal of the Colombo port to China, much to India’s shock and dismay. India had to be content with the inconsequential West Container terminal, which was bagged by Adani Group.

It was seen as a diplomatic defeat for India against China back then as the ECT has a far greater strategic value, by virtue of being located close to the China-developed financial port city. It would have balanced the Chinese power with Indian and Japanese presence.

However, in the worst of times for Sri Lanka, India seems to have redeemed itself against China. While Beijing hinges its BRI hopes on Colombo for its IOR forays, its lukewarm response to Colombo’s appeal for help certainly sends a wrong signal.

Additionally, the western accusations of debt-trapping by China could now resonate with the Colombo leadership which has until now, denied all such claims and maintained a neutral posture in the region, at least diplomatically.

It is an open secret that China has been looking to increase its presence in the IOR, which India has traditionally considered its backyard and its natural sphere of influence.
While India has been pushing the buttons to prevent China’s rise in the IOR similar to one in the South China Sea and the Pacific, it has so far steered clear of being contemptuous of Colombo.

If the Indian government’s alacrity with the assistance and its statements about its friendship with Sri Lanka is anything to go by, it could lead to a strategic shift in the region.

Even though bilateral differences still exist between India and Sri Lanka, New Delhi has proved that it is committed to helping all its neighbors.

The EurAsian Times