Britain said that the appointment of a Defence Adviser will allow the UK to work with the Sri Lankan military on issues of accountability and human rights, in order to address the legacy of the armed conflict.
A British High Commission spokesperson told The Island that the Defence Adviser in New Delhi will concurrently function as non-resident military representative for Sri Lanka.
"The Sri Lankan government has committed itself to addressing the legacy of its long conflict, including through co-sponsorship of a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council this year,” said the spokesperson. “The military have a crucial role to play in this process and in fulfilling the commitments Sri Lanka has made on long-standing issues of reconciliation, accountability and human rights. The appointment of a Defence Adviser will enable the UK to work with the Sri Lankan armed forces on these issues, just as we are supporting the Government and civil society.”
However former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, who was credited with masterminding the final Sri Lankan government offensive which saw tens of thousands of civilian deaths, expressed his concern over the move.
The spokesperson’s comments come after British Prime Minister David Cameron announced that the UK will provide £6.6 million over 3 years to Sri Lanka in order to support “military reform, displaced persons and reconciliation” on the island and deliver on commitments set out in a UN Human Rights Council resolution.
A British High Commission spokesperson told The Island that the Defence Adviser in New Delhi will concurrently function as non-resident military representative for Sri Lanka.
"The Sri Lankan government has committed itself to addressing the legacy of its long conflict, including through co-sponsorship of a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council this year,” said the spokesperson. “The military have a crucial role to play in this process and in fulfilling the commitments Sri Lanka has made on long-standing issues of reconciliation, accountability and human rights. The appointment of a Defence Adviser will enable the UK to work with the Sri Lankan armed forces on these issues, just as we are supporting the Government and civil society.”
However former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, who was credited with masterminding the final Sri Lankan government offensive which saw tens of thousands of civilian deaths, expressed his concern over the move.
The spokesperson’s comments come after British Prime Minister David Cameron announced that the UK will provide £6.6 million over 3 years to Sri Lanka in order to support “military reform, displaced persons and reconciliation” on the island and deliver on commitments set out in a UN Human Rights Council resolution.