• Sumanthiran threatened by mob 
• MP escorted out of venue
• Police asks protesters to act in a civilized manner 

By Easwaran Rutnam 

The Police had to be deployed after LTTE supporters stormed the venue of a meeting attended by Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs M.A. Sumanthiran and Shanakyan Rasamanickam in Canada on Saturday night. 

Both Sumanthiran and Rasamanickam had been invited to speak at the public meeting organised by TNA supporters in Canada. 

Just as Sumanthiran began speaking at the event some of the participants began raising their voices against him and demanded answers to their questions. 

The organisers assured that all the questions will be answered after Sumanthiran concludes his speech. 
However, a group of LTTE supporters who were outside the venue waving the LTTE flag stormed the building and began to protest against Sumanthiran calling him a “traitor” for failing to push for a separate Tamil Eelam state. 
As the situation got tense, and the mob got close to the stage the Canadian Police entered the premises and placed a human barricade around the stage. 

The protesters continued to agitate inside the venue and some were heard verbally threatening Sumanthiran. 
The MP was then escorted out of the venue while the Police continues to try and calm the situation. 
Police officers were heard telling the protesters to act in a civilized manner failing which action will be taken. 
Sumanthiran had arrived in Canada after leading a TNA delegation to Washington DC last week to brief high-ranking officials at the US Department of State on the situation in Sri Lanka. 

The TNA has taken the position that it will not push for a separate State but will seek a negotiated settlement to the ethnic issue.