Sri Lanka Forms Committee To Tackle UK Sanctions on Four Nationals

by Zulfick Farzan 02-04-2025 | 3:55 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Cabinet of Ministers has taken note of the recent decision by the United Kingdom to impose sanctions on four Sri Lankan individuals.

In response, the Cabinet has decided to appoint a special committee to study the matter and submit recommendations on further measures to be taken.

The committee will be composed of the following ministers:

- Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism

- Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara, Minister of Justice and National Integrity

- Aruna Jayasekara, Deputy Minister of Defence

The committee is tasked with thoroughly examining the facts related to the sanctions and providing a detailed report with recommendations to the Cabinet.

Additionally, the committee is empowered to seek the assistance of any officer or expert deemed necessary for their expertise in the relevant field.

On March 24th 2025, the UK imposed sanctions on Former Sri Lanka Army Commanders General Shavendra Silva & General Jagath Jayasuriya, Admiral Of The Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda and Former LTTE Military Commander Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan also known as Karuna Amman, for serious human rights violations.

"The UK government has imposed sanctions on 4 individuals responsible for serious human rights abuses and violations during the Sri Lanka civil war, including extrajudicial killings, torture and/or perpetration of sexual violence," said a statement from the UK Government, adding "The individuals sanctioned by the UK today include former senior Sri Lankan military commanders, and a former LTTE military commander who later led the paramilitary Karuna Group, operating on behalf of the Sri Lankan military against the LTTE."

It added that the measures, which include UK travel bans and asset freezes, target individuals responsible for a range of violations and abuses, such as extrajudicial killings, during the civil war.

Two days later, on March 26, Sri Lanka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism said that unilateral actions by the UK government to impose sanctions on three former military commanders complicate the national reconciliation process underway in Sri Lanka.

It added that the government is actively strengthening domestic mechanisms for accountability and reconciliation, asserting that any past human rights violations should be addressed through these domestic channels.