UK Regrets Exporting Arms to Sri Lanka
UK Regrets Exporting Arms to Sri Lanka | The Sunday Leader
The British House of Commons expressed regret over the export of arms to Sri Lanka by British companies during the 2002-2007 cease fire period. A number of UK companies exported arms to Sri Lanka during the cease fire period.
Belated regret by UK for arms deal with Sri Lanka – Tamilnet
“In the case of Sri Lanka, arms were exported during ceasefire periods, which, in retrospect was regrettable,” the report released Wednesday by the British House of Commons said. It also mentions that, “[t]he final offensive raised “grave concerns” for human rights,” and adds that the British Government had been concerned about the Sri Lankan situation “for quite a long period of time”. “[t]he review and subsequent revocation of nine extant licences for exports to Sri Lanka is to be welcomed,” the report said in conclusion. Considering the thousands of innocent Tamils killed during the Sri Lanka armed forces’ offensive on Vanni and their continuing distress, the belated regret expressed in diplomatic terms does not in anyway help to erase the cause of the regret, representatives of Tamil civil organizations in UK said.
