Illustration by Keera Ratnam / wavesofcolour
For too long, the United Kingdom has pursued a flawed and outdated policy on Sri Lanka. Despite repeated refusals by successive governments in Colombo to address critical issues, including accountability for war crimes and meaningful devolution of powers to the Tamil people, British policy has remained stagnant over the last decade. This approach, marked by the appeasement of various Sri Lankan regimes in the hope of reform and hesitancy to take decisive action when they inevitably fail, has not only emboldened Sri Lanka with its carte blanche. It has also left Britain lagging behind its international allies, some of whom imposed targeted sanctions years ago. The UK must not just catch up. If it seeks to maintain its influence on the island and the region as a whole, it must go further and lead.
The inadequacy of the UK’s approach was starkly highlighted last week by Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s disappointing response to questions from the Foreign Affairs Committee. Lammy claimed there were “positive” signs emerging from Sri Lanka regarding dealing with past atrocities. His assessment is regrettably wrong.
Sri Lanka’s latest president, though from a different political breed from his predecessors, has made it abundantly clear that accountability for the genocide of Tamils is not on his agenda. War criminals will not be prosecuted under his administration; instead, his government continues to promote and celebrate them. A recent UN resolution on accountability, criticised by survivors as too weak, was swiftly rejected by this regime, showcasing an even more hardened stance than the failed so-called ‘good governance’ administration of 2015. Meanwhile, the military occupation of the Tamil homeland continues, whilst Tamil arrests persist under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), legislation that his party pledged to repeal just months ago. When it comes to justice and accountability, the signs are anything but positive. Indeed, at present, there appears to be little that distinguishes this government from those before it.
Lammy’s remarks seemed to be a marked departure from his previous full-throated support for accountability. As an opposition MP, he forcefully demanded sanctions against Sri Lankan war criminals, comparing it to his previous calls for sanctions on apartheid South Africa. For years the current UK foreign secretary has been an ardent supporter of the Tamil cause, paying tribute to “the sacrifices made by the Tamil people for self-determination, for peace, and for justice in Sri Lanka”. His words resonated with Tamils in the UK and on the island, raising hopes for a more robust policy. Yet, the actions of the Labour Party so far, have not matched the words that they spoke when in opposition.
Placing individual sanctions on Sri Lankan war criminals would be a welcome first step, but it would only be the minimum. The United States first placed such sanctions in 2020, having steadily expanded on that list in the years after. Canada also sanctioned several officials, including two former presidents, last year. The UK’s inaction in this regard is glaring. At the very least, London must catch up to its allies in holding perpetrators of atrocities accountable.
The UK, however, needs to go beyond the bare minimum. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary Lammy are intimately familiar with this issue and have both been vocal on it. Earlier this year, Starmer released a statement marking Mullivaikkal Genocide Remembrance Day, and separately acknowledged the “sacrifices made by the Tamil people for self-determination.” Both he and Lammy have called for Sri Lanka to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC). As the former Director of Public Prosecutions, Starmer boasts of his record of prosecuting criminals. Sri Lankan war criminals must now be held to account.
Given the atrocities that are taking place in Gaza and around the world, this is not just an opportunity for the UK to demonstrate its commitment towards accountability for international crimes. Britain’s global standing has taken a significant hit over the past decade. The growing influence of BRICS nations around the world is undeniable, and regions like Sri Lanka have been quick to try and exploit this geopolitical shift. This makes it all the more important for the UK to act decisively. Britain retains considerable influence in Sri Lanka. From its role as a major trading partner and source of tourism to its historical ties, if London utilises its leverage and takes firm action Colombo will be forced to sit up and listen. Those in power must overcome bureaucratic inertia within the Foreign Office and fulfil their pledges to take Sri Lanka to the ICC, pursue universal jurisdiction cases against Sri Lankan war criminals and reset UK-Sri Lanka relations, prioritising accountability, justice and human rights.
Anything less than this will be a failure to lead on one of the defining human rights issues of the Labour Party’s previous tenure. No one has forgotten how the Mullivaikkal genocide unfolded and how little Britain did to stop it. If the UK truly wishes to uphold its values and remain relevant on the global stage, it must step up now.