Milliband’s message says,

“I want to wish everyone in the Tamil community a happy new year and I want to take this opportunity to thank the Tamil community for the incredible contribution you make to our country across every walk of life.

The Labour Party has always been a friend of the Tamil community and will continue to be so, and we will continue to push for the full and independent, international investigation into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka. It’s something I raised with President Sirisena when I met him and we will continue to push this forward, we will continue to advocate for your cause.

We in the Labour Party know our responsibility to the Tamil community. So let me reiterate my wishes for a happy new year and I look forward to working with the Tamil community in the months and years ahead.”

Premier’s message

In his NY message, prime minister David Cameron has extended wishes to both communities.

“I would like to send my best wishes to everyone in Britain, Sri Lanka and around the world celebrating Aluth Avurudda and to all Tamil communities celebrating Puthandu today. It’s a time when millions of people will be coming together with families, friends and neighbours to celebrate their New Year.

But it is also a time to remember the fantastic contribution Tamil and Sinhalese communities make to Britain. We see it around us, every single day – in our schools and our hospitals, in the arts and businesses – you play an incredibly important and positive role.

I’m sure many people celebrating today will be thinking of loved ones overseas, especially in Sri Lanka. When I met with President Sirisena in Downing Street last month I offered my support for the steps his government has begun to take to address the issues of the past. But I was also clear that the Government must go further and that they must continue to offer full support to the ongoing UN investigation.

I hope that this New Year will bring communities closer together in helping to heal the wounds of the past.

To everyone celebrating Puthandu and Aluth Avurudda I wish you a very happy and prosperous New Year.”

Sinhala community’s objections

President of the British-Sri Lanka Forum Janaka Alahapperuma told BBC Sandeshaya that Milliband has made an opportunistic statement with the hope of securing Tamils’s votes to gain power.

He condemned it as an opportunistic, unwise, imprudent statement.