By Saroj Pathirana BBC Sinhala Service

They urged the regional power to play a more constructive role in solving the national question.

Protesters called on India to send food to Jaffna and exert pressure on Sri Lankan government to resolve national question

Sri Lankan Tamils on Monday staged a protest in front of Indian High Commission in London urging Indian authorities to 'exert pressure' on Sri Lanka government to stop the war.

The protesters felt the Norwegian-led peace process have failed to protect Tamils in Sri Lanka.

"We call upon India to, first of all, supply food to starving population in Jaffna," a protester, S Yogalingam, told bbcsinhala.com.

Indo-Lanka accord

Many felt that India is not doing enough to protect their "grand children" in the island nation.

Sandarayogam, an organiser, said the giant neighbour should exert pressure on Sri Lanka to find a solution in line with Indo-Lanka accord.

What did the international community do when innocent civilians were killed in Vakarai? Protester S Yogalingam

"In my opinion, the accord is still valid. India should help Sri Lanka to find a solution in line with the accord," he told BBC Sandeshaya.

Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lanka President JR Jayawardhene signed an accord in an attempt to solve Sri Lanka's national question in 1987.

Sri Lanka agreed to merge north and eastern districts to form a Tamil-dominant province and new regional body, Provincial Councils were introduced as per the agreement.

'Failed' Norwegian facilitation

The Supreme Court however ruled last year that the merger was illegal as the government has not taken measures to legalise the merger.

The leader of the Left Front, who took part in the protest, disagreed with the protesters' demand.

	Gandhi-Jayawardhene pact is still valid, say protesters

"India currently supports President Rajapaksa's war agenda and explore whether they could invest more in those areas," Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne told the BBC.

"I doubt whether this is the real intention behind India's intervention?".

The protesters however were keen to get the giant neighbour involved in Sri Lanka's peace process.

"What did the international community do when innocent civilians were killed in Vakarai?" S Yogalingam questioned. "They issued statements and kept away".

When questioned as to why the protesters did not ask Tamil Tigers to stop fighting, he said the rebels were fighting for their rights and they support the rebels' struggle.