The United States has honoured a Sri Lankan parliamentarian of Indian origin, Mano Ganesan, for defending human rights in the island nation.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice named Ganesan as a runner-up for the first Freedom Defenders Award 2007 at a ceremony to mark Human Rights Day.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, an NGO, got the award on December 10.

'On several occasions, when the threats to his life and safety became acute, Ganesan and his family were forced to flee Sri Lanka and seek temporary refuge in India,' the US information department said in a statement on the occasion.

The award, part of President George W Bush's Freedom Agenda, aimed at advancing freedom and democracy around the world, was set up to honour foreign activists and non-governmental organisations that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to advancing liberty and courage in the face of adversity.

"I am happy at being honoured and will continue to work for human rights," Ganesan told PTI.

In 2006, Ganesan founded the Civil Monitoring Commission and now serves as its convener. He established the Western People's Front in 2000 to represent Tamils of the greater Colombo area, which he continues to lead.