It is not illegal to carry the flag with the tiger symbol that the demonstrators carry.
http://lrrp.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/tamil-eelam-flag-to-represent-tamil-students/
http://www.tamilguardian.com/article.asp?articleid=2243

I think the main point that should be driven home is should the protesters have thought of a more effective mode of raising awareness of the humanitarian catastrophe faced by the Tamil people.

But that is what we learn from living in a free country. You cannot control everything. We are not talking about North korea or even Sri lanka. It is canada or Australia or Britain or Norway etc. So those who did not like the Eelam flag should have focused their energies in a positive way and tried to find an alternative path to raising awareness. I will say I was one of those people who did not go on those demonstrations because of that symbol. To me more than the tiger…I find it depressing because it is almost a reflection of the Sri lankan state and its ridiculous flag….not an alternative. However, I defend and respect the right of both those people to go on a demonstration with their flag and express what they feel. The humanitarian issue is utmost in my mind and I refrain on engaging in such discussions and focus on driving home the issue of the plight of the trapped civilians caught in the cross fire. I don’t want to impose my personal prejudices on those who want to fly their flag.

I admit this is a personal prejudice because there are other national flags from reputed, peace loving countries with pretty unattractive, violent symbolism and yet I don’t think I would think twice sometimes when standing next to them.

Read the translation of the french national anthem and you will see what I mean.
http://french.about.com/library/weekly/aa071400ma.htm

I do wish Sri lankan people, both Sinhalese and Tamil would be more reasonable and rational about this issue and focus on other more productive things. It is even more depressing to see Tamils resorting to so much pettiness and backbiting when our people are being massacred.

And I too and have reduced myself to investing valuable time on this. What can I say?? What hope do we have if we are reduced to this level of discourse???

I disagree with Ranjan. Sinhalese and Tamils look different in physical features. Sinhalese are fair and bigger made than Tamils. On average Tamils are of very dark skin colour. Their eating habits are different. Sinhalese use less chilies and more coconut milk. Most Tamil men wear moustache whereas Sinhalese men do not.

Ah, if only national stereotypes were true! My first girlfriend was Swedish. According to the stereotype she should have been blonde with big boobs. Unfortunately she had black hair and was as flat as a pancake.

Ilaya Seran Senguttuvan

According to him some Sri Lankans who prefer to eat western food cease to be sinhalese or Tamil. The people who have got out of Sri Lanka wear western clothes cease to be Sri Lankan. His own President who wears a mustache cease to be Sinhalese. I have seen in one family one is fair, one is dark.

Sinhalese language is a mixture of several Indian languages including Tamil.

was written by a real sinhalese(not an imposter) I do not want to call myself a sinhalese.

What a disgusting filth you have unleashed, shows your inner hatred towards the mankind.

Whoever you are, you deserve a place with Prabakaran.

Nice reply to post #85.

Good job!

You display great prejudice and inability to see beyond ethnic stereotypes………….DBSJ