2ND LEAD

Overwhelming Tamil response in referendum hit British media reports

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 February 2010, 13:36 GMT]
"British-based Tamils have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the creation of an independent sovereign state in Sri Lanka, days after the man credited with crushing the Tamil Tigers's 26-year rebellion won a second term as the island's president," reported leading British newspaper Guardian on Monday. Meanwhile, BBC reported that an overwhelming majority among the Tamil disapora in UK has endorsed the call for a separate country for the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

"The results of last week's poll demonstrate the gulf between Sri Lanka's Sinhalese majority and Tamil minority. Despite a resounding victory across much of the country Rajapaksa lost in areas hit hard by war and where Tamils are in the majority," the newspaper said.

Speaking to Guardian, Suren Surendran of British Tamils Forum, said: " I think it is encouraging to see British Tamils showing their aspirations through the democratic process just as their compatriots around the world have. The same is not possible for their kith and kin back in Sri Lanka as the constitution prohibits people espousing separation."

BBC, in its report said that people have been discussing the results in restaurants and community centres in London suburbs where Sri Lankan Tamils form considerable communities, such as East Ham and Wembley.

On Sunday, Times Online carried an article by Stuart Cosgrove, saying Tamils are the undisputed world champions of diaspora politics, who defy a new world order on the epic stage of global politics.

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External Links:

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British-based Tamils vote for independent state in Sri Lanka