Chennai, Dec 8 : For the first time, instead of raising voices for their own issues, hoards of transgender gathered here today to served a hunger strike to show solidarity with the ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Almost all transgender associations in Tamil Nadu participated in the protest to voice their concern over the alleged atrocities on ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Several political leaders including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Rajya Sabha member and daughter of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, Kanimozhi participated in the protest

Talking to media persons after the protest, Kanimozhi praised the effort of transgender and termed the Sri Lankan Tamil issue as one of the most important issues of the state.

"Transgender from different organisations have come together for the common cause which is beyond their own problems and issues. This is the issue, asking for ceasefire in Sri Lanka and to reach out to the Sri Lankan Tamils," said Kanimozhi.

Sri Lanakan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 13 during his visit to New Delhi ruled out possibility of ceasefire till the rebels laid down Arms.

The Tigers say they are fighting to establish a separate homeland for Sri Lanka''s Tamil minority, which they allege has been marginalised by successive governments in Colombo led by the Sinhalese majority since independence from Britain in 1948.

But the Sri Lankan government says the rebels must be destroyed, because they are on a host of terrorism lists including those from the United States, India and Europe, and adds that it is increasingly confident of defeating them soon. (ANI)