4 February 2022 08:44 am Views - 3740
While claiming that the UK government takes ‘very seriously’ the allegations of torture and sexual violence in the report 'Sri Lanka: Torture and Sexual Violence by Security Forces 2020-2021', compiled by the report by the International Truth and Justice Project, Britain on Wednesday said that they have already raised serious concerns around the deteriorating human rights situation in SL.
In a written answer to a question raised by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi in the UK Parliament Amanda Milling, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) stated that during the recent visit by UK’s Minister for South Asia, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, has raised the importance of these issues on several occasions with the Sri Lankan leaders.
“The Minister for South Asia, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, has raised the importance of these issues on several occasions with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner and the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris. During his visit to Sri Lanka on 18-20 January, he raised serious concerns around the deteriorating human rights situation when he met the President, Foreign Minister, and other members of the Sri Lankan Government. The Foreign Secretary raised the importance of upholding human rights when she met Foreign Minister Peiris on October 26, 2021,” she stated.
“We will continue to support the monitoring of the human rights situation and accountability in Sri Lanka by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as mandated by the UN Human Rights Council resolution 46/1 on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka,” she further added.
The UK’s Minister of State has responded to the question raised by the Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi who asked what steps her Department is taking to support the Tamil population of Sri Lanka; and what steps her Department is taking in response to the recommendations for UN member states in that report. (Sunil Jayasiri)