Over 250 Political and Human Rights Organisations, NGOs and INGOs representing members of the Tamil community based in the UK had requested the UK Government to sponsor a resolution to create an International Independent Investigative Mechanism on Sri Lanka at the 46th UN Human Rights Council Session. The Joint Request has been sent to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Monday. The groups said an Independent Investigative Mechanism relating to Sri Lanka should be brought to investigate and prosecute for serious international crimes committed in Sri Lanka, including the crime of genocide of Tamils. “As you will no doubt be aware, in March 2014 the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution mandating the UN Human Rights Commissioner’s Office to investigate human rights violations and war crimes which took place between 21st February 2002 and 15th November 2011. “Its report was published in September 2015 and documented the international crimes committed during the conflict. We would note further that despite the war having ended in May 2009, the genocide of Tamils continues unabated,” the letter said. It further said the Sri Lankan Government has now had almost 12 years since the end of the war but has sought to prevent any meaningful investigations. “The clear impression given by successive governments of Sri Lanka, including the government of the current President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is to continue to deny that any crimes were committed on the part of the Sri Lankan state and prevent any investigations from taking place and continue with the Genocide. “Sri Lanka is certain to continue its propaganda of false reconciliation and advance genocide of indigenous Tamils. British Tamils are very well aware of this advancing threat by the Sri Lankan state, having already suffered under the Sri Lankan state before fleeing to Britain and call for the British Government to act on our behalf. “In the circumstances, we respectfully ask our Government to sponsor a Resolution at the 46th UN Human Rights Council to create an International Independent Investigative Mechanism like the one established for Myanmar mandated to collect evidence of the most serious international crimes and violations of international law and prepare files for criminal prosecution. “A meaningful International Independent Investigative Mechanism should gather evidence from the Tamils affected by the genocide whilst also making use of the information and evidence contained in the OISL Report of September 2015,” it said.