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UK arms sales to Sri Lanka questioned

The Chairman of the UK's arms export control committee has called into question weapons sales to Sri Lanka, given the country's “appalling” human rights record

Sir John Stanley, a senior Conservative MP who heads the weapons watchdog, told MPs,

"I do not need to recite the appalling human rights abuses that have taken place in Sri Lanka. I strongly support the prime minister in his calls for an international independent inquiry.

"However, against that human rights background, the house will wish to consider the British government's arms export licence approvals in just nine months of last year. They included 100 pistols, 130 rifles, 210 combat shotguns, 600 assault rifles, unknown quantities of small arms ammunition and unknown quantities of machine guns.


"I hope that the minister will not say that these were all for counter-piracy, because I do not find that a credible answer, particularly when combined with the complete list of the 49 extant arms export approved licences to Sri Lanka."

Over £8 million of weapons were exported to Sri Lanka in 2012 from the UK.

The decision was defended by the British government, with Michael Fallon, a business minister, responding by saying weapons were sent for “anti piracy”, adding,

"Decisions on Sri Lanka, of course, take into account alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law during the military conflict that ended in 2009, as well as the nature of the equipment.

"Arms exports to Sri Lanka have increased recently, as we have issued a number of licences for weapons and other equipment that will be used by maritime security companies undertaking commercial anti-piracy work.

"Those ongoing efforts to fight piracy are important for international trade and security."

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