Sri Lanka and the Commonwealth

My right hon. Friend is right. She has worked as hard as anybody on the issue—in fact, we worked together on the whole matter. It is so frustrating that this is happening—it is almost beyond words. People are not listening, and those speaking out almost feel as if they are in a dream, and like they are shouting and no voice is coming out. As I said, that is why we have to be witnesses. During the 11 years I have been in the House, I have never spoken in a debate on an international issue. I am not somebody who would ever regard themselves as a House of Commons person. I find the environment quite pompous and I think that people speak for too long—just as I am currently doing. However, today I fully understand the importance of people speaking out and saying something here independently. If we do not do so, who will? We must put every pressure that we can on the Government, who have acted swiftly over the past few weeks and months, to do more. If we do not ask them to do more, who will? This Parliament has to say that the conflict needs a truce. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to raise an issue that affects many of my constituents. I hope that the Government will do their best to shame the Sri Lankan Government into a ceasefire, and if they do not stop fighting, our Government should begin the process of expelling Sri Lanka from the Commonwealth. I hope that the media will pay attention to this forgotten conflict and that my constituents will hear that their families are once again safe and sound.