UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn called for a war crimes tribunal in Sri Lanka to ensure perpetrators of crimes are punished, in a message released to mark ten years since the end of the armed conflict on Saturday.

“On Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day we commemorate the tens of thousand of people who were killed and the widespread human rights abuses in the final stages of the Sri Lankan Civil War,” said the British opposition leader.

“Ten years on there has been virtually no progress in prosecuting those responsible and without justice there can be no sustainable peace.”

Corbyn went on to add,

“Today, the Labour Party recommits ourselves to securing justice for the families of those who died and the survivors who suffered such grave human rights violations. We renew our commitment to the resolution passed at the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2015 - the Sri Lankan government must establish a fair and impartial tribunal to investigate, prosecute and punish the perpetrators of war crimes.

All sides must now work towards a political settlement that acknowledges the rights of the Tamil people. That is how a sustainable peace can be achieved.

That is why as we mark this painful anniversary, we call on the UK government to take a lead in helping to ensure justice.”

Read his statement in full here.

His call follows that of several British parliamentarians over this week, including those who attended a commemorative event in London on Saturday.

Corbyn had earlier this week attended an event in the Houses of Parliament where he said a future Labour government would be committed to the causes of achieving justice and accountability for the Tamil people, as well as recognising their right to self-determination.