News Today: UK Imposes Sanctions on Shavendra Silva and 3 Others for Human Rights Violations

The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on four individuals accused of committing human rights violations during Sri Lanka’s civil war. These individuals include former senior Sri Lankan military commanders and a former LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) military leader, who later led the paramilitary Karuna Group, operating on behalf of the Sri Lankan military against the LTTE.

The sanctions include travel bans and asset freezes and target individuals accused of extrajudicial killings, torture, and sexual violence during the civil war. The UK government has made it clear that it is committed to seeking accountability for these heinous crimes, which continue to affect communities in Sri Lanka today.

Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, David Lammy, emphasized the UK’s commitment to human rights in Sri Lanka. He said, “I made a commitment during the election campaign to ensure those responsible are not allowed impunity. This decision ensures that those responsible for past human rights violations and abuses are held accountable.”

The sanctioned individuals are:

1. Shavendra Silva, former head of Sri Lanka’s Army, who is accused of orchestrating extrajudicial killings and other violations during the final stages of the civil war.

2. Wasantha Karannagoda, former Navy Commander, who is implicated in human rights abuses during the conflict.

3. Jagath Jayasuriya, former Sri Lankan Army Commander, who faces accusations of involvement in torture and extrajudicial killings.

4. Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan (Karuna Amman), former military commander of the LTTE and later leader of the Karuna Group, responsible for severe human rights violations.

David Lammy also remarked that the UK government looks forward to collaborating with the newly formed Sri Lankan government to enhance human rights and build national unity. This move is part of the UK’s ongoing efforts to support accountability and reconciliation within Sri Lanka.

The UK’s decision to impose sanctions aligns with its long-standing commitment to international accountability for human rights violations, working alongside other nations in the Core Group on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council, which includes Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.

The UK government also supports Sri Lanka’s ongoing reforms, recognizing that long-term stability in Sri Lanka is vital for both the region and international security.