More than 37,000 Canadian Tamil protesters rallied in front of the Peace Tower in Parliament Hill on Tuesday. The Parliament lawn was fully packed in one of the largest demonstrations in the Parliament Hill. The protestors want the Canadian government pressure Sri Lanka to end a military assault in their motherland.

The Canadian Tamil protest was going on for two weeks, it started on April 7, 2009. On eighth, six people staged hunger strike, it was suspended on 18th on an assurance of Canadian Government. But the protest continued till Tuesday's mass rally.

The protesters said that the ethnic conflict has now turned in to a genocidal war. They were demanding Canada to impose economic sanctions on the Sri Lankan government and expel the country's high commissioner.

They demanded from Canada for more action, Canada to do more to force the Sri Lankan government to end its offensive attack on safe zone in the northern coast of Mullaithivu.

The magnitude of the demonstration prompted some MPs to acknowledge the protesters for the first time in two weeks. NDP leader Jack Layton and Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff met the Tamil community leaders.

Highways into the capital were choked with buses and cars ferrying Tamil supporters onto the Hill early Tuesday. Their numbers grew throughout the day.

Entire families, from grandmothers to babies in strollers draped in plastic to ward off rain, people pulled out of school and work  stood together at the demonstration. Protesters beat drums, chanted, and marched a procession of foam crosses and coffins amid a steady drizzle.

Volunteer protest organizer Ragavan Baladarui said the effects of the war on his family in Sri Lanka compelled him to act.

"My aunt was killed in the war zone. She was killed when she was trying to cook food for the children," he said.

"And since then I couldn't stay home, I've been protesting."

They stowed the red flags in favour of plain black ones at Tuesday's protest to signify mourning and encourage politicians to come out and speak.

Opposition New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton was among those to take up the invitations, calling for a ceasefire.   "We need our government to speak out strongly, to use every tool available, and to do so now," he said to raucous cheering from the crowd.

Main opposition Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff did not speak at the demonstration, but did meet with Tamil community leaders and expressed his concerns. “I am deeply concerned about escalating violence in Sri Lanka, and the resulting deaths of thousands of civilians,”Ignatieff said. He urged Canada's Conservative government to take a leadership role in condemning the violence and providing humanitarian aid.

The media release by Liberals following this meeting is at the bottom of this article.

As the protest continued outside the doors of the House of Commons, opposition MPs stopped short of calling for similar measures. Instead, they asked the government if they will increase aid to Sri Lanka.

Bev Oda, Minister for International Co-Operation, replied by saying a ceasefire was necessary before aid could be properly distributed.

"We are concerned on the impact to the civilians and we will respond appropriately when we can do it effectively," she said in the Commons.

Priya Kandasamy, a grade 12 student from Toronto who missed class to hand out leaflets at the protest, said she hopes the demonstration will help remove the terrorist stigma from Canadian Tamils.

"As you can see with the population here, you can't call us all terrorists," she said.

"The world has to open its eyes to this."

Canada is home to about 300,000 Tamils, one of the largest Tamil populations outside Sri Lanka and India.  A number of large protests have been staged in recent months.

Media Release by Liberals:

OTTAWA – Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff today met with members of the Tamil community in Ottawa to discuss the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka.

“I am deeply concerned about escalating violence in Sri Lanka, and the resulting deaths of thousands of civilians,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “It was important for me to hear from Tamil Canadians, whose family and friends in Sri Lanka are suffering first hand from this crisis.”

Joined at the meeting by several Liberal Members of Parliament, Mr. Ignatieff noted that Canada is home to one of the largest Tamil communities outside of Sri Lanka, and has a special responsibility to assist in international efforts to bring about political reconciliation and to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches those who need it.

“We cannot sit back and watch as thousands of innocent lives are lost in the cross-fire, and we condemn any attempt to use civilians as human shields,” said Mr. Ignatieff.

The Liberal Party has urged the Canadian government to take a leadership role in condemning the violence and providing humanitarian aid. As Mr. Ignatieff added, “There are no military solutions to this conflict, and we must stress the absolute necessity of an internationally-coordinated diplomatic strategy. Canada must press the United Nations to appoint a Special Representative for Sri Lanka to facilitate an immediate ceasefire and a return to dialogue to address the long-term future of Sri Lanka and the need for national reconciliation.”