The British government was questioned in Parliament this week on what action it is taking to support Tamils seeking justice for past and ongoing abuses in Sri Lanka.
Raising the issue in the House of Commons on 20 January 2026, Peter Lamb, the Labour MP for Crawley, asked:
“What action are the UK Government taking to support Tamils in seeking justice for past and current injustices?”
Responding on behalf of the government, Hamish Falconer, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, said the UK remained actively engaged on accountability for crimes committed against the Tamil people.
“The UK is active in seeking justice and accountability for Sri Lanka’s Tamil community,” Falconer told the House. He said Britain continues to play a leading role at the United Nations Human Rights Council on resolutions addressing Sri Lanka’s human rights record.
Falconer added that the UK had taken concrete steps in recent years, including imposing sanctions. “Last year, we sanctioned Sri Lankans for human rights violations in the civil war,” he said, referring to measures targeting individuals implicated in serious abuses.
He also stated that the UK had communicated its expectations directly to Colombo. “We have made clear to the Sri Lankan Government the importance of improved human rights for all in Sri Lanka, as well as reconciliation,” Falconer said.
Concluding his response, Falconer marked the Tamil harvest festival, adding, “Let me take the opportunity to wish the Tamil community a happy Thai Pongal.”
The exchange comes amid continued concern among Tamils and international human rights organisations over Sri Lanka’s failure to deliver accountability for mass atrocities, enforced disappearances, and ongoing repression in the North-East. Despite repeated UN resolutions and international pressure, no senior military or political figures have been held criminally responsible for crimes committed during the armed conflict or in its aftermath.
The crimes are being more widely recognised as being a genocide.