Burstow meets Brown to raise humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka

7.47.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 22nd Apr 2009

MP for Sutton and Cheam, Paul Burstow, today met the Prime Minister to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka on behalf of British Tamils in his constituency.

Mr Burstow was part of a delegation of MPs who met Mr Brown and his Special Envoy, Des Brown to urge the Government to put more pressure on the Sri Lankan Government.

Mr Burstow took the opportunity to ask the Prime Minister to seek assurances from the Sri Lankan Government that it will allow a relief shipment from the UK paid for by British Tamils safe passage to unload its cargo.

Mr Burstow also urged the Prime Minister to work through the Commonwealth to exert pressure on the Sri Lankan government and questioned the legitimacy of the 2011 Commonwealth conference being held in Sri Lanka .

Mr Burstow also took the opportunity to relay to the Prime Minister the concerns and frustrations which have been expressed to him by Tamils from the local community.

At a town hall style meeting last month and this week during meetings in Sutton and with protesters in Parliament Square Mr Burstow has discussed the urgent need for a ceasefire and for the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Yesterday Mr Burstow joined the protest outside Parliament to meet Tamils who had made the journey from his constituency and also Prarameswaran Subramaniam who has been on hunger strike for a fortnight.

Commenting Paul Burstow said:

'There is a humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sri Lanka, innocent Tamil civilians are caught up in a war. Thousands have died, many more have been displaced. Human rights have been trampled on.

'The Tamil people need our help urgently; they are currently caught in the cross-fire and desperately need the humanitarian aid which the international community is ready to send but which they cannot get in.

"What is required is a ceasefire and for unrestricted access for UN and other relief agencies."