Former Sri Lankan Navy Commander and Admiral of the Fleet, Wasantha Karannagoda, has lashed out at the United Kingdom and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, following the decision to impose sanctions on him and two other senior military officials over their involvement in human rights violations. 

Since January, Sri Lanka has witnessed multiple violent killings, with 27 reported shootings over the span of just 82 days, leaving at least 22 people dead, according to Sri Lankan police.

Sri Lankan human rights activist and chairman of Families of the Disappeared, Brito Fernando, shared harrowing allegations of torture and abuse committed by retired Sri Lankan army commander and accused war criminal Major General Shavendra Silva during his tenure at the Matale Vijaya torture camp.

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement criticising the United Kingdom’s recent decision to impose sanctions on four individuals, including three former Sri Lankan military commanders, for war crimes.

The People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL) welcomed the UK government's decision to sanction Sri Lankan war criminals but called on the international community to do more to advance accountability for Sri Lanka’s war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide against the Tamil nation.