By Sunil Jayasiri  

Britain says it is concerned by recent reports of violence during protests in Sri Lanka and encourages all sides to find a peaceful, democratic and inclusive approach to resolve Sri Lanka’s political and economic challenges.  

“We regularly discuss our concerns about human rights with the Government of Sri Lanka. Lord Ahmad raised the need to improve human rights and deliver justice and accountability with the Sri Lankan President and Foreign Minister when he visited Sri Lanka. The Foreign Secretary raised the importance of upholding human rights when she met Foreign Minister Peiris,” Parliamentary Under-Secretary -Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office-Vicky Ford told UK Parliament.  

She said that the Minister of State for South Asia, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, has urged for the right to protest peacefully to be protected and for violence to cease.  

The UK High Commissioner to Sri Lanka met the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka on April 20. The High Commissioner has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the loss of life during protests in Rambukkana on  April 19.