Media Release
UK FCDO Press Release entitled “UK Sanctions for Human Rights Violations and Abuses during the Sri Lankan Civil War”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism takes note of the Press Release dated 24th March 2025, issued by the UK, Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) entitled “UK Sanctions for Human Rights Violations and Abuses 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 military commanders of the Sri Lankan armed forces.
It is also noted that the UK FCDO Press Release refers to “a commitment made during the election campaign to ensure those responsible are not allowed impunity”.
In this regard, the Ministry wishes to underline that this is a unilateral action taken by the UK government which involves an asset freeze and travel ban on the individuals concerned. Such unilateral actions by countries do not assist but serve to complicate the national reconciliation process underway in Sri Lanka.
The government is in the process of strengthening domestic mechanisms on accountability and reconciliation and any past human rights violations should be dealt with through domestic accountability mechanisms.
The position of the Government of Sri Lanka was conveyed by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath to the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick, today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism
Colombo
26 March 2025
58th Session of the Human Rights Council:
Statement by PR/Geneva
(as the country concerned following the Oral Update on Sri Lanka
by the High Commissioner for Human Rights)
03 March 2025
On 26 February 2025, Hon. Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, visited the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). Hon. Minister met Ms. Charlotte Warakaulle, Director of International Relations and Prof. Emmanuel Tsesmelis, Head of Non-Member State Relations during the visit and explored future opportunities for Sri Lankan students, academics and scientists to contribute to experiments and research work with CERN while reinvigorating Sri Lanka’s collaboration with CERN.
Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Mr. President, I wish to congratulate you on your election as the President of this Council.
Mr. President,
Madam President
Excellencies
Distinguished delegates
First, let me congratulate Her Excellency ICHIKAWA Tomiko, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Japan on assuming the Presidency of the Conference on Disarmament. I wish to assure you of my country’s fullest support and cooperation for the success of the CD. I also sincerely thank Italy; the First President to the CD this year for the leadership in adopting the programme of work and setting the ground for this year’s work. Let me reiterate the support of Sri Lanka to Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malaysia and Mexico; the incoming presidents for 2025 and wish them strength to unlock the deadlock the CD has been in for over two decades and resume its substantive work.
Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Savithri Paulraj presented the progress made since the submission of Sri Lanka’s 9th periodic report to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in Geneva on 13th February 2025. Outlining notable progress achieved, notable achievements in decision making roles including in Parliament, Minister Paulraj underlined the government’s commitment to upholding the rights of women and girls and in advancing gender equality across all sectors, while seeking to address remaining challenges across economic, social and cultural spheres. Minister Paulraj highlighted the election of 22 female Parliamentarians from diverse social backgrounds including from the working class, marginalized communities and two women parliamentarians from the Malayaga community for the first time in Sri Lanka’s parliamentary history, as well as the appointment of the third female Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, who obtained the highest number of preferential votes from the Colombo district.
Madam Chair,
Distinguished members of the Committee,
Civil society representatives, particularly those who have travelled from Sri Lanka,
Good morning
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