UK to Continue Sanctions Against Alleged Sri Lankan War Crimes Suspects – Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper

25-Dec-2025

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UK Foreign Secretary Wendy Morton announced that the British government imposed sanctions on four Sri Lankan individuals in March and that further actions related to accountability for war crimes will continue.

Speaking at a recent UK Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee meeting, MP Uma Kumaran raised concerns regarding the lack of accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sri Lanka, citing findings by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

He noted that despite 15 years having passed since the end of the war, no criminal investigations or special court proceedings have been initiated, and that victims and survivors have not been heard.

In response, the UK Foreign Secretary stated that the UK continues to press Sri Lanka for effective and sustained action to improve human rights and confirmed that sanctions imposed in March demonstrate ongoing progress in this regard.

Uma Kumaran welcomed the statement and emphasized the need to expand sanctions against alleged war criminals.