UK regrets Lanka arms deal

30 March 2010 05:58 am - 31 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

A report by the British House of Commons, released today, has concluded that that the review and subsequent revocation of nine extant licenses for exports to Sri Lanka is to be welcomed and regretted that arms were exported to Sri Lanka during ceasefire periods.

The report by a select committee of members of the House of Commons, available on the House of Commons website and to be released to the British Parliament today, notes that in evidence to the Committee in January 2010, the Minister of State for the UK Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) had said that the UK Government had been concerned about the Sri Lankan situation “for quite a long period of time”, and, as such have been “very cautious”.

The report says that although the evidence and information from Sri Lanka was “very patchy”, the Minister explained that the nine licenses revoked during July and August 2009, were a consequence of the review undertaken by the UK Government, and an example of lessons learnt following consideration of the conflict situation in Sri Lanka.

Mr David Hall, Deputy Head, Counter Proliferation Department, FCO, confirmed that the evidence of what has happened in the past was taken into account in the risk assessments that are made in the future, the report said.

Taking into consideration all the evidence at hand the report by the British House of Commons further concludes that the UK Government should take a longer term view about unstable countries, and further appraisal is required where the peace is fragile.

UK arms exports have ended up in places that Scrutiny of Arms Export Controls (2010) 7 were contrary to UK policy in the case of Israel, and in the case of Sri Lanka, arms were exported during ceasefire periods, which, in retrospect was regrettable, the report said. (Daily Mirror online)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 31

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 08:53 AM

This realization even at this late stage is welcome. Like the emergency regulations which are in place only to suppress the opposition and the media in this country , providing arms to despots is a licence to kill innocents. I suggest a travel embargo to EU countries for all government MPs to really get the message through.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 06:51 PM

The UK and its propaganda machine ... The UK remains the world's largest haven for terrorists.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 02:07 PM

after evey thing happen revoked the license forget no need sri lankan government cough arm procurement also

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 01:32 PM

We don't need MORE arms. We've used the weapons for their use now since the war is over don't need to use more weapons. But we cannot sell it back to the UK like Ranil said. Thats just plain stupid.
This is just another way of the UK shrugging off Sri Lanka cause of the problems between our government and theirs.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 01:23 PM

So why are you writing your comments in English mate? - that is the language of the UK and other developed Western countries. Why dont you write in your 'sinhala" or better still in chinese.!

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 12:25 PM

Looks like UK is still thinking about tamil terrorists. We don't want your arms but UK you need to fix your economy. BA & rail strikes will soon be on and there will be National HealthService cuts too.
Please take SL off the list.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 12:19 PM

This is the reason why the UK wanted SL to stop the war. Any arms dealer wants a conflict to continue. This is the way an arms dealer makes money. Obviously the UK would say now "We regret this". I'm we had the brains and the will to finish off the war. Hope we reconcile with our Tamil brothers and sort the constitution. If we don't the next conflict would surely be the end of SL as a paradise.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 12:11 PM

UK...Both of your Pockets are Empty !.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 12:06 PM

Are all politicians jokers in the world? Who buy weapons that can not be used in wars? If you have any, please return them all are worthless shit. Who signed such agreements before buying any weapons from them, are also the same jokers like them. Are UK toys killing children in Afghanistan and Iraq?

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 11:53 AM

Real Losers.
They are still worried that we got rid of LTTE.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 10:58 AM

Are they trying to say that powerfull UK arms defeated LTTE.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 10:28 AM

After loosing the GSP +, all the garment factory employers and employees can get together and manufacture arms and ammunition and export

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 10:28 AM

UK did help diasspora to raise millions of money to pump to LTTE to buy arms from other sources.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 09:34 AM

Countries like UK should keep there mouth shut, they are under ever increasing public debt which would never be paid...... it is best they take care of themselves before trying to help others,.... Miliband and gang will warm the opposition benches after April, that is for sure

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 09:26 AM

Chinese were selling to LTTE too. The question is was UK supplying weapons to SL to crush LTTE or not? and who cashed in the commissions?

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 08:54 AM

Financially hit UK sold arms to Sri Lanka and tried their best to help the LTTE and make sure the war lasts forever, so that they can sell arms to both the parties and earn money. Now that the war is over, they have revoked the licenses. Very funny.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 06:34 AM

We don't need any more arms from UK.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 08:40 AM

countries exporting arms love unstable countries.taliban sadam, binladen were very good friends of these countries,specially usa and england ,sometime back.
ranjit de mel berlin

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 08:33 AM

The British cannot protect their own soldiers in Afghanistan and currently the British government is under fire from the public for supplying sub-standard equipment and vehicles that were supposed to be armour plated, but was not. Seriously, SL does not need any weapons from Britain, so this report means nothing, and now after the war is finished it means even less.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 08:02 AM

Who wants UK arms.
Let us get them from CHINA, RUSSIA & PAKISTAN.

UK & the West sells arms to both sides of a conflict. They are mostly untrustwothy two facesd monkeys.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 07:57 AM

Obviously they have no regrets about concessions granted to LTTE then and now.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 07:38 AM

with your arms we did what would been defeatism for you when you were fighting in n. ireland - eliminating terrorism.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 07:32 AM

Dont worry UK. They were put into good use. Now Sri Lanka free of active terrorists. Few hiding underground will be smoked out too.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 07:25 AM

At least unlike our friends the chinese, the brits did not supply the LTTE with arms for about 7 years.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 07:18 AM

Many thanks to Mr Prabakaran... Now we are not a Purchaser...We have become a leading Exporter ! .

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 07:14 AM

We honestly regret...We killed our main supplier LTTE !.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 07:10 AM

It appears that UK truly regret that Sri Lanka crushed LTTE seperatist movement forever.
In otherwards, UK wishes that no military support should have extended to Sri Lanka by other countries and Prabakaran and his leaders survieves this long.
UK, we have simple messege for you...you and your bunch has been totally defeated and defeated forever.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 07:06 AM

Return the money, we will return the arms exported by U.K., after all it must be said that, they must have been blind otherwise they wouldn't have exported arms to SL and IL. now who's fooling who?

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 06:55 AM

Now Sri Lanka can re export all what they have got from UK if they rgret the decision. They regret so much because the arms were used to kill LTTE which hurts UK a lot which is evident all this time anyway.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 06:49 AM

quite right!

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 06:45 AM

Is that how LTTE became more powerful during ceasefire ?

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

UK regrets Lanka arms deal

Comments - 31

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

Belgian traveller scammed in Kalutara

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

23 year old youth ends up having his testicles removed

A US “Kaputa”, a Lankan “Nariya” and a Presidential “Feast”

New Visa procedure implemented

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

MIRROR CRICKET

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Debt Restructuring Talks: Bondholders Fear Regime Change Impact

Don’t be deceived by NPP and Cardinal Ranjith: UNP

Emirates halts check-in for connections, UL cancels flights to Dubai

Plans afoot to obtain “Blue Flag Beaches” certification for SL beaches

Hardik fined Rs 12 lakh for violating IPL code of conduct after win over Punjab Kings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings