Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) parliamentarian Sivagnanam Shritharan commended the UK government’s decision to [sanction Sri Lankan war criminals](https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/breaking-uk-sanctions-sri-lankan-war-criminals) 16 years after the Mullivaikal Genocide, and called on other states to follow suit.
Shritharan praised the move, which he said drew on the “timely act of imposing sanctions against four notorious human rights violators” ahead of the September 2025 UNHRC Resolution on Sri Lanka.
On Monday, the UK government sanctioned three former heads of the Sri Lankan military arm and former leader of the paramilitary group, Karuna Group.
In a letter to the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Shritharan adds that “the UK’s sanctions will send an important message to the international community that those committing heinous crimes against Tamils in Sri Lanka will not be let off the hook by the countries upholding human rights.” The UK holds a special position in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) as the lead on the ‘Core Group’ - a group of member states that take the lead in drafting and negotiating resolutions.
Shritharan concluded his letter by requesting “other member states to follow the U.S, Canada and the UK’s actions using universal jurisdiction principles.”