To the Honourable President and Members of the Senate assembled in Parliament:

The petition of certain citizens of Australia expresses our grave concerns about the conflict in Sri Lanka as arguably the most significant crisis in the Commonwealth of Nations of which Australia is a member.

We understand that both the Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs have expressed their concerns about the conflict and have advocated sending a fact-finding parliamentary delegation to Sri Lanka. They have also emphasised the need for an internationally mediated peaceful resolution to the conflict that would bring greater autonomy for the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

We therefore pray that the members of the Senate call on the government:

to persuade the United Nations to authorise a delegation to carry out a fact finding mission to Sri Lanka.

to appeal to the Sri Lankan government to lift the economic embargo and allow non-government organisations to carry out emergency relief works without any government interference in the Tamil areas.

to appeal to the parties to the conflict to stop the war and negotiate a political solution that recognises the right of self-determination of Tamils.

to persuade the parties to the conflict to accept the role of an independent "Envoy" to facilitate a negotiated peaceful resolution to the conflict under international observation.