British MPs have urged the UK foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt to push for a "robust international response" in response to the political crisis in Sri Lanka following the unconstitutional removal of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
"The UK has been at the forefront of efforts to promote justice and accountability at the UN Human Rights Council. The governments of Gordon Brown and David Cameron kept human rights in Sri Lanka high on the agenda of the international community, but we are increasingly concerned that this focus has waned under Theresa May's ministry," Labour Party MPs, Wes Streeting, Mike Gapes, Siobhain McDonagh and Joan Ryan wrote.
"We urge you to use your good offices to ensure a robust international response to developing events in Sri Lanka and to ensure that human rights in Sri Lanka at the top of the agenda at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva," British MPs said.
The MPs further state that the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister would threaten to set back the progress Sri Lanka has made since his ouster at the last presidential elections.
"This is a man whose ten-year rule of Sri Lanka is associated with authoritarianism, forced disappearances and widespread human rights abuses. We beleive his place is in the dock, answering allegations of war crimes at the Hague, rather than back enjoying the trappings of power in Colombo."
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