UK MP makes emotional speech on Tamil parents from Sri Lanka

UK MP Uma Kumaran got emotional while speaking in the British Parliament about the struggles of her Tamil parents from Sri Lanka.

Making her maiden speech in the British Parliament since being elected recently, Uma Kumaran said that her parents were part of the success story of Britain.

Uma Kumaran was born in East London, where her parents first lived when they came to the UK after fleeing Sri Lanka’s armed conflict.

In May 2024 Kumaran was selected to be the Labour Party’s candidate in the newly created constituency of Stratford and Bow. She was subsequently elected to Parliament.

Kumaran said she was a daughter of Tamil refugees and a child of a community that knows what its like to endure prejudice and persecution.

She paid tribute to her parents, who were in Parliament at the time, saying they struggled to give her a better future.

Kumaran said her parents fled for their lives 40 years ago and moved to Britain and are now proud British citizens.

She said her parents were forced to leave behind everything and everyone they loved.

The MP recalled her parents had to start from scratch in the UK, working multiple jobs, day and night to give her the chanced that were taken from them.

Kumaran said Britain welcomed her parents with open arms so they could rebuild their lives and flourish. (