Britain express concern over UN report on human rights and accountability in SL

By Sujeeva Nivunhella in London

State Minister for Asia in Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Nigel Adams responded to a series of questions by Labour MPs on the situation in Sri Lanka, in the British Parliament last week.

Replying to a question by Fleur Anderson, MP, he said the UK is very concerned by the recent UN report on human rights and accountability in Sri Lanka.

“As I have said previously, we have made our concerns about the human rights situation clear. The Foreign Secretary has confirmed that the United Kingdom would lead a new resolution on post-conflict reconciliation, accountability and human rights”, the State Minister noted.

He said further said: “The Minister for South Asia, Lord Ahmad, set out our serious concerns about human rights in Sri Lanka in a statement at the UN Human Rights Council on February 25. On February 22, the Foreign Secretary confirmed that the UK would lead a new resolution on post-conflict reconciliation, accountability and human rights.

“We continue to engage with Sri Lanka on these issues and on climate change, trade and the covid-19 response. UK-funded programs in Sri Lanka support, resettlement, police reform and demining”.

Fielding to another question from Sam Tarry, he said: “Our engagement with the military in Sri Lanka is designed to support the development of a modern, effective and human rights-compliant military. Engagement with the police is focused on community police”.

Labour MP for Harrow West, Gareth Thomas, said the UN Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet produced a particularly devastating report on Sri Lanka. She said the progress on human rights continues to be very poor in Sri Lanka.

Indeed there has been very little progress bringing to justice those responsible for terrible war crimes at the end of the conflict in 2009. UN in general has been good at highlighting just how barbaric the events in 2009 were. There was systematic shelling of areas where Tamil civilians were living and the bombing of hospitals, the MP claimed.

He said there were extra judicial executions of surrendering LTTE cadres. Since 2009, things have not got much better. Human rights abuses have continued. Independent defenders of human rights such as the Judiciary, and other crucial human rights organisations have found their independence gradually stifled by the current government.

“I hope the British Government will play a much bigger role in trying to hold the current government in Sri Lanka to account”, Gareth added.