§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his officials have had with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka about the needs of Muslims in Sri Lanka. [163363]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienIn their contacts with representatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) officials from the British high commission in Sri Lanka regularly raise concerns regarding community relations in LTTE-held areas including the situation of the Muslim community.
§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to stop the displacement of Muslims in Sri Lanka. [163364]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe forced displacement in the past of large numbers of the Muslim community in parts of North and East Sri Lanka by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is one of the many regrettable aspects of the conflict. A large number of Muslims remain internally displaced. Their reintegration and that of other internally displaced people will be a major issue for a permanent peace agreement to address. We are not aware of any significant recent displacements of Muslims although relations between Muslim, Tamil and Sinhalese communities in eastern Sri Lanka remains an issue of concern. The Government, through the Global Conflict Prevention Pool, are currently funding work by local NGOs to develop early warning mechanisms to prevent local disputes in the east from escalating.