AN MP has raised the plight of Sri Lanka's Tamil community in Parliament after pressure from a campaigning former refugee.

David Evennett, Conservative MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, raised the matter in the House of Commons after Lux Anandarajah asked Bexley's three MPs for help.

Mr Anandarajah, director of Bexley's Council for Racial Equality, lost contact with a Tamil friend six weeks ago.

Civil war has raged in Sri Lanka - a British colony until 1948 - between the Sinhalese government and the Tamils for more 20 years.

Mr Anandarajah, 55, who fled Sri Lanka for London in 1990, says the Sinhalese government discriminates against the Tamils.

Mr Evennett has also met other MPs to discuss cases brought by Bexley residents and see how the Government could be forced to act.

Mr Evennett said: "I think the Government should be more robust and investigate the abuse."

After meeting Mr Anandarajah on January 26, he said: "I will be taking up this issue and putting pressure on the Foreign Secretary to look into what is going on."

Erith and Thamesmead MP John Austin, who met Mr Anandarajah last Friday, says he raised concerns in Parliament last November.

He said: "My most recent representations to parliament were in respect of an attack by Sri Lanka Armed Forces when about 100 people were killed.

"I urged the Government to take action to ensure the United Nations and Red Cross were allowed access."

Mr Anandarajah said: "I'm pleased with the results of my letters. Hopefully the Government will act and end the abuse."

But Derek Conway, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, was not as receptive to the idea and will not be raising the matter with colleagues.

He said: "We're no longer a colonial power and it's unlikely the British Government would get involved."