Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Sri Lanka: Human Rights — [Dame Maria Miller in the Chair]

20 March 2024 · 5 other contributors · 8,569 words

Opened by Elliot Colburn Con Carshalton and Wallington

Responding minister: Andrew Mitchell

Foreign Affairs

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Elliot Colburn raised concerns about sri lanka: human rights — [dame maria miller in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Sri Lanka's 2009 conflict ended with a bloodbath, resulting in tens of thousands of Tamil deaths.
  • The Government's denial of war crimes and continued use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act fuel human rights concerns.
  • The UK calls for suspending military cooperation with Sri Lanka until personnel implicated in human rights abuses are removed from security forces.

Key requests to Government

The UK must suspend military co-operation until Sri Lanka removes personnel implicated in human rights violations from its security forces. Diplomatic access should be refused to accused individuals, trade deals re-evaluated based on human rights commitments, and sanctions considered as a tool for pressure. All future bilateral and multilateral ties with Sri Lanka should be contingent on concrete progress, including investigations into war crimes and reduction of military presence in former conflict zones.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Elliot Colburn Con Carshalton and Wallington

Sri Lanka's 2009 conflict ended in a horrific bloodbath, with tens of thousands of Tamils killed. The Government's continued denial of war crimes fuels anger and blocks the path towards healing. An estimated 70,000 to 170,000 Tamils are unaccounted for and presumed dead. Police actively disrupted Tamil remembrance events last year despite court orders permitting them, leading to arrests under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The PTA has fuelled decades of abuse such as prolonged detentions, disappearances and torture against Tamils and Muslims.

Other contributors (5)
  • Anna McMorrin Lab Cardiff North

    The UK has close ties with Sri Lanka, including human rights concerns for minority groups. The Labour party supports accountability and reconciliation for the atrocities during the civil war. Anna McMorrin highlighted that little progress has been made towards justice 15 years after the conflict ended. She questioned the Government's view on the national unity and reconciliation commission and its transparency. Additionally, she asked about human rights sanctions against those responsible for grave abuses and whether there is a case to be answered at the International Criminal Court.

  • Brendan O'Hara SNP Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber

    The MP highlighted the persistent issue of human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, noting that despite decades of debate in this House, the situation remains unchanged. He cited historical examples of state-sponsored discrimination against Tamils, including the Ceylon Citizenship Act and the Sinhala Only Act. The MP emphasized the ongoing violence against the Tamil minority, highlighting the role of the 1979 Prevention of Terrorism Act and concerns over the new Anti-Terrorism Bill which may further curtail civil liberties.

  • Iain Duncan Smith Con Chingford and Woodford Green

    He supported the previous speaker's comments on the need to address human rights issues for Tamil refugees in Sri Lanka, noting that the unresolved issue has led to military overspending by the Sri Lankan Government, contributing to China securing a 99-year lease on Hambantota port and having strategic naval presence there.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Mr. Shannon highlighted the ongoing issues with human rights and freedom of religion or belief in Sri Lanka, particularly focusing on religious minorities facing oppression from an autocratic regime. He mentioned specific incidents such as the occupation of minority Tamil and Muslim properties by government agencies, a judge fleeing due to death threats after ruling against the construction of a Buddhist monument on a Hindu temple site, and discriminatory laws allowing child marriage without setting minimum age limits for women and girls under the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act. Mr. Shannon urged the UK Government to use aid as leverage to change Sri Lankan authorities' opinion and called for discussions with the Sri Lankan government regarding human rights issues. The hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) intervened to emphasise the need for accountability and justice for those who committed war crimes during the Sri Lankan civil war, urging that perpetrators face legal consequences rather than impunity.

  • Siobhain McDonagh Lab Mitcham and Morden

    The hon. Member for Mitcham and Morden (Siobhain McDonagh) praised the Tamil community's contributions to society, but expressed frustration over ongoing human rights abuses in Sri Lanka. She called for the repeal of the sixth amendment, which criminalises support for a separate state within Sri Lanka, and criticised the current UK Foreign Secretary for promoting infrastructure projects that did not align with the interests of British Tamils.

Government Response

Andrew Mitchell

The Minister for the Indo-Pacific acknowledged Sri Lanka's human rights concerns, highlighting Britain's strategy focusing on professional military education and international development. Concerns were raised about civil society surveillance, misuse of laws like the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and the Online Safety Act potentially restricting online communication. The Government monitors land disputes and tensions between communities. A £11 million programme supports human rights and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, with projects tackling conflict legacies and promoting gender equality. Britain has been a leading member in UN Human Rights Council efforts to improve human rights, justice, and accountability in Sri Lanka.

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