The British Tamil Conservatives (BTC) welcomed the UN Human Rights Council's mandating of the OHCHR to undertake an inquiry into Sri Lanka and expressed gratitude to British officials responsible for pushing the resolution.

In a statement made Saturday, the BTC thanked the British Prime Minister David Cameron for fulfilling his promise made to the Tamil people to push for an international investigation, following his visit to Jaffna last year.

"Efforts to secure passage of the resolution were led by the unremitting efforts of Her Majesty’s Government involving the direct intervention from the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon David Cameron who spoke with several heads of government to secure their support; the Foreign Secretary, Rt. Hon William Hague, and, the minister with responsibility for Sri Lanka Rt. Hon Hugo Swire."

"The BTC is thankful to the Prime Minister, everyone in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and, His Excellency John Rankin, the British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, who worked hard to garner sufficient support from voting members of the UNHRC."

"Also, it is important to recognize the very significant contribution made by many Conservative MPs, in debates, questions in parliament and hundreds of letters written to represent the concerns of their British Tamil constituents and drawing attention to the plight of Sri Lanka’s war victims."

Pledging to continue working towards building a strong relationship between the Tamil community in the UK and the Conservative Party, the BTC added,

"The BTC was formed in 2008 at a time when few British MPs had little knowledge of the egregious human right violations in Sri Lanka. It also supports and encourages the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils, which now has over hundred members, and continues to work hard to strengthen it."