• Reaffirms partnership amid sanctions row over military leaders

The UK Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, arrives in Colombo today (17) for a high-level visit aimed at reinforcing the UK–Sri Lanka partnership, advancing humanitarian cooperation and demonstrating British support for communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah.

The visit, the first by a senior UK cabinet minister since last year’s sanctions decision, will see Lammy meet President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for bilateral talks on economic cooperation, reconciliation and humanitarian priorities, as well as Sri Lanka’s engagement with the Global Charter on Children’s Care Reform. During the visit he will also witness UK-funded humanitarian efforts on the ground to assist families and communities devastated by the cyclone late last year.

However, Lammy’s itinerary comes amid ongoing diplomatic tensions over UK sanctions on former senior Sri Lankan military commanders, a move that has previously drawn criticism from Colombo.

In March 2025, the UK Government, under powers exercised by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office led by Lammy, imposed targeted travel bans and asset freezes on four individuals alleging that they were responsible for human-rights violations during Sri Lanka’s internal conflict. The measures, enacted under the UK’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations, prohibit the designated individuals from entering or remaining in the UK and freeze any UK-based assets.

The sanctions list included former Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva, former Navy Commander Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, former Army Commander General Jagath Jayasuriya, and Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan.

This action sparked a strong response from the Sri Lankan Government, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs describing the sanctions as “unilateral and unhelpful” and warning they could complicate domestic reconciliation efforts. Colombo has maintained that past abuses should be addressed through Sri Lanka’s own accountability processes.