Human rights groups have criticised the British government’s stance on Sri Lanka and called for a Rolls Royce engine deal with Sri Lankan Airlines not to influence their position, in light of British Prime Minister David Cameron’s decision to attend the upcoming Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting.

The Guardian reported Amnesty's UK head of policy and government affairs, Allan Hogarth, said,

"This must not detract from raising human rights issues. It must not be a condition on Britain remaining silent".

Brad Adams, of Human Rights Watch, also commented on the deal, stating,

"The UN estimates that 40,000 civilians were killed by the Sri Lankan army. Although the British economy is in trouble, it would be a serious outrage and betrayal of basic principles to sell the attendance of the Queen or prime minister at CHOGM for the purchase of some Rolls-Royce engines. These decisions should be made independently and on the merits."

The British Foreign Office meanwhile responded by saying,

"The decision to hold the meeting in Sri Lanka was taken by the Commonwealth as a whole in 2009 and reaffirmed in 2011. We respect the collective will of the Commonwealth".

"Obviously, you have to separate the bilateral relationship with Sri Lanka from CHOGM. They are aligned but our decision on CHOGM will be a result ultimately of what our objectives are for that meeting. Our relationship with Sri Lanka is not defined by one meeting."

See more from The Guardian here.

Ann Clwyd, a Labour MP and member of the Foreign Affairs select committee labelled Britain’s decision to attend the CHOGM as "appalling", adding,

"People shouldn't be forced to give up values on the trade altar. Trade is important in terms of jobs in this country. It's always a difficult issue for people to speak about but I would say that it really should not be used as a bargaining tool."

Douglas Alexander, Labour's shadow foreign secretary,

"We have repeatedly said that, whilst the Sri Lankan government fails to meet its international obligations, the British government must use the prospect of the forthcoming Commonwealth meeting in Colombo to pressure them to do so”.

"The prime minister must urgently raise with the Sri Lankan government the need for a full, independent, international investigation into the allegations of war crimes committed by all parties. Withholding his attendance at the conference until progress has been made is one of the tools at the Prime Ministers disposal."