The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, John Rankin, has criticised the large military presence in the Northeast of Sri Lanka.
In a video message, answering questions about last month’s report on human rights, Mr Rankin said Sri Lanka has serious human rights issues that need to be addressed.
He questioned the need for maintaining such a huge military contingent in the Northeast and called for the number to be scaled down to make it resemble the number of soldiers in other parts of the island.
Mr Rankin also pointed out that any accusations of breach of international humanitarian law by British soldiers are always fully investigated and held responsible, if found guilty. He said he hopes that Sri Lanka will act in the same way and apply the same standards.
