Strong support for Sri Lankan family

Pandara Somasundram

The British Government is coming under enormous pressure not to deport a Sri Lankan family from Belfast.

According to the local Belfast-based North Belfast News, public opinion in support of the Somasundram family from Sri Lanka may force British Home Secretary Jack Straw to postpone their deportation.

"The Home Office has been taken back by the amount of letters and telephone calls it has recieved backing the Somasundram family and will not risk a public outcry by deporting them", the newspaper reported last week.

The Somasundram family fled Sri Lanka and came to the North almost three years ago, after their son was killed, and they have been fighting deportation ever since.

The British Home Office has repeatedly refused the family's asylum application on the grounds that peace talks are taking place in Sri Lanka between Tamil separatists and the government.

However, with the unprecedented amont of support being shown for the family, including stong backing from South Belfast MLA Alex Maskey, campaigners are now hopeful they will be allowed to remain in the Six Counties.