With kind respect,
let me put this out...
These types of things may continue if you don't clear the root.
The root being a land unconsciously given to wrong hands without a proper system.
So the cause is - "England abandoning the land of Ceylon than giving independence".
Can it come back to clear up the mess?.. and properly free the people it colonized...

John, Toronto,

Since the independence in 1948 successive Sri Lankan governments have systematically carried out genocide of Tamils in Sri lanka. Deporting Tamils from Colombo clearly shows that the Sinhala dominated government does not consider Tamils as Sri Lankan citizens and they are from another state. Sri Lankan government always tries to justify its brutal acts by using "sovereignty", "protecting territorial integrity", “war on terror” slogans. If the Sri Lankan government can't solve the ethnic conflict in the last 49 years, chances are it will never solve it. It is time for the international community to act prudently and recognise the Tamil homeland in north and east (Eelam). This is the only solution for the ethnic conflict.

Nav Alan, London, UK

Since the independence in 1948 successive Sri Lankan governments have systematically carried out genocide of Tamils in Sri lanka. Deporting Tamils from Colombo clearly shows that the Sinhala dominated government does not consider Tamils as Sri Lankan citizens and they are from another state. Sri Lankan government always tries to justify its brutal acts by using "sovereignty", "protecting territorial integrity", “war on terror” slogans. If the Sri Lankan government can't solve the ethnic conflict in the last 49 years, chances are it will never solve it. It is time for the international community to act prudently and recognise the Tamil homeland in north and east (Eelam). This is the only solution for the ethnic conflict.

Nav Alan, London, UK

This is an neutal explaining the pathetic human rights condition in Srilanka. Eventhough Tamils were opreesed for many years, this incident is a new form of state sponsored atrocity. I would like to thank ths author for bringing this out. I hope it will be an eye opener for international community.

James, Miami , FL

We are witnessing a pinacle of the atrocity that has been committed by the Sinhalese towards the minority Tamils in Sri-Lanka. From 1956 onward the minorities had been eliminated by the succesive governmant from the country, specially from Colombo.
As there been wider condemnation towards this in human act, now, the Sri-Lanka government would adopt a very disguised smaller scale ethnic clensing so the world may not notice.

Raj, Sydney, Australia

This is just one aspect of the ethnic cleansing by the Srilankan government.Successive Srilankan governments have been systematically and successfully executing the ethnic cleansing for the last 49 years.There is plenty of evidence for this.
1. Nearly one hundred housand tamils have been killed and executed by Srilankan security forces,death squads and state sponsored paramilitaries. Several thousnands of tamils have been maimed.2. More than half of tamil population of Srilanka have been forced out of their homes by state security forces and armed Sinhala settlers.They have been living in temporary shelters for years in Northeast of Srilanka.There is starvation and poverty in the tamil areas 3.Few hundred thousands of lucky tamils were able to leave Srilanka to escape from the ethnic cleansing and living all over the world particularly in Europe , North America. Oceania and India.It is high time for the international community to take decisive action against Srilankan government.

TS, London, UK

As a British born Sri Lankan I have seen at first hand the discrimination and suspicion the Tamils are subjected to. I did my medical elective there last year and I was appauled to hear consultants degrading Tamils. The doctor realised she had just embarrassed herself infront of a British medical student when it became apparent I was Tamil. But she would have carried on regardless.

The suspicion and discrimination must be solved from a root level. If the Singhalese population regard Tamils as second class citizens then so will the Government (and vice versa). The political situation will deteriorate until someone steps in again.

Jeni Ketheswaran, Manchester,

The action by the Sri lankan state has clearly shown that Tamils are second class citizens and do not have basic human rights. You are only full citizen if you are Sinhalese and Buddhist. I am not Buddhist, but was Buddhas preaching not about love and harmony?

Jaem, London,

How long the Tamils can continue to suffer under the successive Sinhala elected governments. This has been going for the last 59 years in differect forms of suppression, both military and political, being applied on innocent Tamil population. When will the international community will come out and help Tamils live with peace and diginity in the island. If they can alleviate sufferings of Bosinians, Kosovans, E-Timorians etc., surely Tamils can be helped as well. India, espicially Tamil Nadu , please wake up to help your brethern. tamils need your help.Better late than never.

V Kumar, London, uk

I feel that a huge hue and cry has been made about the expulsion of Tamils from the capital city. However, compared what successive Sri Lankan governments have been doing, this is not only harmless but also somewhat decent thing to do. I do not understand why media is crying foul. In the past, search operations have resulted in taking masses of Tamil civilains into custody only to have the less fortunate and poor among them summarily executed by the armed forces. It is far better to remove them, albeit forcibly, than kill them.

Srikant Venkat, Philadelphia, United States

Please NOTE: If the Sri Lankan(=sinhala) government is capable of ethinically cleansing tamils from the capital at gun point while

1. The international community is keenly watching developments on the island..
2. there is an equally strong armed tamil group (Tigers) safeguarding tamil aspirations

imagine what the government is capable of , minus these two factors!! GENOCIDE, THIS WORLD HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE....

The government that claims the tamils NEVER had or have a tamil homeland seemed to prove again by their actions that tamils "naturally" belong in the NE of the island and should return to their "homeland".....

Today we have reached a point where....

1. The government by its actions has recognised the tamil homeland
OR
2. The sinhala people no longer wish to live side by side with the tamils( tamils becauuse of the discrimination and genocide arrived at this conclusion many decades ago!!)

PL, London, United Kingdom

Thank you for this open-minded and quality report. Most news media (ironically BBC too) we get are repeats of what the oppressive Sri Lankan government releases.
Keep up your quality reporting- we need true journalists to report true news.

William Woatson, London, U.K.

Top story Jeremy. Thanks for bringing to the attention of the world the plight of innocent Tamil civilians in Colombo. If this is what the Sri lankan government is willing to subject Tamils in Colombo, just immagine what they have to endure in the Northeast from where reporters are barred, no human rights organisations; and, where NGOs have been subjected to murder, torture and rape.

Arujuna Sivananthan, London, UK

Dear Mr. Jeremy Page,

We like to thank you for your un-biased reporting regards to the "plight of tamils living in Sri Lanka". What's goes on in Sri lanka is an "ethnic cleansing (similar to Bosnia etc.) This is the main reason the tamils were forced to ask for separate state to look after their affairs and live with "human rights, peace with diginity, good family values (education, jobs & economic prosperirty). Like East-Timor and other places the Europeans , Russia, US, Canada should recognize the "unique situation and uncivilized Buddist fundamentalist and their government's short term and long term goal to erradicte Tamils in Sri Lanka".

We Tamils always thank the people of UK for their on going support and for "human rights" in the world (irrespective of whether they have oil or not). The British & Europeans had fought war to establish freedom and human rights all over the world.
Thank You Sir
TAMIL CANADIAN
WHO PRIDE HUMAN RIGHTS FOR EVERYBODY IN THE WOLD

KUMAR, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

We all have only one planet to live, regardless of what language we speak. How can we tolerate this type of state terrorism.

Sinhalese elected government deported the Tamils to their homeland in the North and Eastern part of Ceylon. Why can't the civilsed world recognise the independent Tamil state "Eelam"

International community should take the same measure similar to Bosnia

Bala, London, UK

It was inevitable given this Government's "back to the 80's" policy. The stage is set for another anti-tamil pogrom.

Ana Pararajasingham, Sydney, Australia

Sir,
Indiscriminate authoritarian measures against economic migrants are more likely to cause more long term harm than good. "Hearts & minds" campaigns are a far better solution than ethnic cleansing.

SC, London, United Kingdom

It is brutal, heartless, shortsighted, will further exacerbate relations between the communities and recoil with a vengeance on the perpetrators of this barbaric measure.

Victor Menon, Bandgalore, India

Doesn't any party want their country to live in Peace.
A UN brokered resolution?
Build a bridge between India and Sri Lanka also on the Jaffna point, it could be on international development plan.
Future economic growth will be possible with the help of the international community.

simon gill, Nottingham, England