Sri Lanka has expressed strong concerns over the United Kingdom’s decision to impose sanctions on several Sri Lankan officials, including three former military leaders. The Foreign Ministry stated today that such unilateral measures only complicate the country’s ongoing reconciliation efforts.
This response comes after the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) issued a press release on March 24, 2025, announcing sanctions against four individuals for alleged human rights violations during Sri Lanka’s civil war. The sanctions include an asset freeze and a travel ban on the named individuals.
The Foreign Ministry highlighted that the UK’s action was based on an election campaign promise to ensure accountability. However, it stressed that these types of actions, taken independently by foreign governments, do not support Sri Lanka’s reconciliation process but instead make it more difficult.
The Ministry reiterated that Sri Lanka is committed to strengthening its domestic mechanisms to ensure accountability and address any past human rights concerns. It emphasized that such matters should be handled through Sri Lanka’s own legal and reconciliation processes.
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath officially conveyed Sri Lanka’s stance to the British High Commissioner, Andrew Patrick, during a meeting today.
Read the full Press Release
Press release issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office entitled “UK sanctions in relation to human rights violations and abuses committed during the Sri Lankan civil war”
The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Overseas Employment and Tourism has been drawn to the press release issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 24 March 2025 entitled “UK Sanctions about human rights violations and abuses committed during the Sri Lankan civil war”. As stated in the press release, the UK government has imposed sanctions on four individuals, three of whom are former heads of the Sri Lankan armed forces.
The press release also refers to “a promise made during the election campaign to ensure that those responsible are prevented from going unpunished. ”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Overseas Employment and Tourism emphasizes that these sanctions, which include freezing the assets of the individuals in the country and banning them from entering the country, are a unilateral measure taken by the UK government. It is observed that such unilateral measures taken by countries do not provide any support to the domestic reconciliation process in Sri Lanka and serve to further confuse the situation.
The government is engaged in strengthening local mechanisms for accountability and reconciliation, and any past human rights violations should be addressed through local accountability mechanisms.
The Sri Lankan government’s position was conveyed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Vijitha Herath, to the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Mr. Andrew Patrick, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Overseas Employment, and Tourism today (26).
