Ed Miliband replies concerned Sri Lankan email

Reply from Ed Miliband

Dear Good morning,

Thank you for your email to Ed Miliband. Ed has asked me to reply on his behalf.

The Labour Party has had a long standing policy of encouraging Sri Lanka to further strengthen unity amongst its diverse communities. Ed was delighted to meet President Sirisena during his recent visit to London so soon after his election, where they spoke at length about domestic policies and issues in Sri Lanka.

The Labour Party is proud of Britain’s diversity and we would like to take this opportunity to also recognise the contribution of all Sri Lankans to the economy, business, public services and our cultural life in the UK.

Ed would also like to reiterate his wishes to the Sinhalese, Tamil and the wider Sri Lankan community in the UK on the auspicious occasion of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

Ed was very pleased to have the opportunity to be interviewed by ITN Sri Lanka earlier this week. Ed spoke about Labour’s priorities for this election and expressed gratitude to the work British Sri Lankans do for our country. You can find the interview at the following link:  

http://www.sesatha.co.uk/Event_News/20150419_Janahanda_Met_Miliband/index.htm#.VTaXBWN0Q4M.gmail

Once again, Ed would like to send his very best wishes the Sri Lankan community here in the UK, at this special time.

Thank you again for taking the time to get in touch with Ed Miliband,

Yours sincerely,

A Williams
Office of Rt Hon Ed Miliband

 

Original Email by Gayathri Clarke

Dear Mr. Miliband,

As a long-time supporter of the Labour Party and someone who wishes you well in the upcoming elections and hopes very much that you become our next Prime Minister, I was very disappointed, in fact, very hurt, that your New Year Message delivered yesterday was exclusively aimed at the Tamil Community.

As a Sinhalese Sri Lankan residing in the UK for many years, to hear you aim your best wishes for the New Year only at the Tamils living in the UK was offensive. You only wished Tamils a Happy New year and implied that only Tamils provide an “incredible contribution” to our country by thanking them, ignoring the many Sinhalese who live, work and contribute massively to the UK. To state that the Labour Party is a friend to the Tamil community excludes the many Sinhalese who have integrated throughout all walks of life and communities in Britain and the emphasis at the end that the Labour Party will work with the Tamil community is almost discriminatory.

I understand your desire to seek for an independent war crimes enquiry in Sri Lanka, but the wishes for a Happy New Year was neither the time nor the place for ‘playing’ politics and seeking favour with one ethnic minority against another.

This broadcast message is now in the wild on the Internet on Facebook and other social media sites and can only damage the Labour Party in the eyes of many.

I cannot emphasise how hurt I was at hearing your New Year Wishes directed exclusively at the Tamil Community and I hope that you can understand the rejection that almost all Sinhalese Sri Lankans feel this morning.

I do feel that an apology is warranted and your New Year Messages should be more inclusive from this day forward.

Yours sincerely
Gayathri Clarke