Virendra Sharma MP

Virendra Sharma MP attends the inauguration of the Global Tamil Conference

 VIRENDRA SHARMA MP attends the inaugural conference of the Global Tamil Forum in Parliament

Virendra Sharma MP attended and spoke at the launch of the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) on the 24^th Feb 2010. He was joined by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Rt. Hon. David Miliband MP and an array of national and international Parliamentarians, civil leaders and academics, in a momentous show of support for the newly formed Tamil Diaspora body that met in The Gladstone Room, Parliament.  Tamil Diaspora organisations from the five continents are represented in the Forum which will adhere to principles of democracy and non-violence. As part of the day Virendra Sharma led a group of Tamil delegates to a private meeting with the Prime Minister Gordon Brown in his Parliament office.     

David Miliband speaking at the forum said:

“I think it is very significant indeed that the Global Tamil Forum should have brought people together from fourteen countries. That in itself is a huge achievement. It is a reflection of the breadth of the Tamil Diaspora around the world and I hope it speaks to a unity that will serve the rights and hopes of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka.”

As Chair of the All Parliamentary Group for Tamils, Virendra has consistently raised the plight of Tamils since his election to parliament in July 2007.  Virendra Sharma commented:

“The inaugural conference of the Global Tamil Forum was a great success. I pledged my continuing support to the Tamil people in their fight for political and human rights in Sri Lanka and called on the international community and the Government of Sri Lanka to work to find a political solution that recognises those legitimate rights. The Prime Minister also re-affirmed his commitment to keep up the pressure on the Government of Sri Lanka to recognise the rights of the Tamil people.”