Britain has refused to speculate on the possibility of future sanctions against individuals in Sri Lanka accused of war crimes, stating that such speculation could undermine the effectiveness of these measures.
“It would not be appropriate to speculate about future sanctions designations, as doing so could reduce their impact,” said Catherine West, Under Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, in response to a written question regarding the potential imposition of Magnitsky-style sanctions against those accused of war crimes in Sri Lanka.
Addressing a query from a Labour MP in the UK Parliament, West emphasized that Sri Lanka remains a human rights priority for the UK, and the British government continues to engage with Sri Lankan authorities on issues of truth, justice, and accountability.
She further noted that the UK’s Global Human Rights sanctions regime is a crucial instrument in their foreign policy, with sanctions being applied when they are deemed effective in achieving broader foreign policy objectives.
