Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice is calling on the UK government to impose targeted sanctions on key perpetrators of human rights violations in Sri Lanka.
Decades after the end of the country’s brutal civil war, war crimes and atrocities remain unaddressed, with high-ranking officials implicated in abuses continuing to enjoy impunity. The UK has a unique opportunity to advance global justice by enacting targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for these crimes.
This November, join the effort to make Magnitsky Month a turning point in the fight against impunity. This month, Sri Lanka Campaign are spotlighting the following three perpetrators:
Shavendra Silva – Chief of Defence Staff
Silva has been Army Commander since August 2019. As the leader of the 58th Division, Silva oversaw operations linked to mass atrocity crimes, including attacks on civilians, hospitals, and UN-designated No Fire Zones. His division is accused of using banned weapons and committing torture, rape and enforced disappearances. Hundreds of surrendering Tamils allegedly vanished in Silva’s custody, including prominent Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leaders who were last seen surrendering but later found executed. As his promotion shows, Silva has faced minimal accountability; international attempts at justice, like a 2011 New York case, were blocked by diplomatic immunity, though the U.S. sanctioned him in 2020.
Kamal Gunaratne – Former Defence Secretary
Since the end of the war Gunaratne has been repeatedly rewarded by promotions to influential positions, such as Deputy Ambassador in Brazil (2012-2014), and since 2019 has been Defence Secretary in Sri Lanka.
As the former commander of the 53rd Division, Gunaratne is also implicated in war crimes, including indiscriminate attacks on civilian zones and extrajudicial killings, notably of LTTE news reader Isaipriya. Post-war, Gunaratne oversaw Joseph Camp, where torture and sexual violence were widespread. He also managed Manik Farm, an internment camp where over 200,000 Tamil civilians suffered abusive conditions. Despite these allegations, he remains celebrated domestically and there have been no independent investigations into his conduct.
Pillayan- Leader of the TMVP and Former Chief Minister of the Eastern Province
Pillayan, also known as Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, has held prominent political roles in Sri Lanka, including Deputy Minister and Chief Minister of the Eastern Province. As a leader of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), Pillyan is implicated in numerous human rights abuses, including abductions, extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances targeting both civilians and political opponents. TMVP forces under his influence were also notorious for forcibly recruiting child soldiers. Pillyan is also connected to the 2005 murder of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham. Arrested for this crime in 2015, he was released in 2019 under contested circumstances. Despite these allegations, Pillyan has continued to hold influential positions within the government, and there has been limited accountability for his actions. Calls for an independent investigation into his role in human rights abuses have repeatedly been obstructed.
What Is Magnitsky Month and Why Does It Matter?
Magnitsky Month commemorates the life and legacy of Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian lawyer who was murdered in November 2009 after uncovering high-level government corruption. Following his death, the Global Magnitsky Act was enacted in 2016 to allow the U.S. to impose sanctions on perpetrators of corruption or human rights abuses- no matter where they are in the world. Other countries later followed with Magnitsky style legislation, including in Canada, the UK and parts of Europe. These sanctions often include travel bans, financial and asset freezes, and other restrictions on international dealings, effectively cutting perpetrators off from global financial networks.
Unlike broad economic sanctions, which can negatively impact entire populations, Magnitsky-style sanctions target only those directly responsible for abuses. This focused approach minimises harm to innocent citizens of the perpetrator’s country, while isolating and limiting the freedom of the guilty. For Sri Lanka, where human rights violations from the civil war era remain unaddressed, these sorts of sanctions offer a path towards justice.
While the U.S. has already sanctioned some Sri Lankan perpetrators under the Global Magnitsky Act, such as Shavendra Silva, other countries, particularly the UK, need to follow suit. With a strong commitment to human rights, the UK has an opportunity to bolster the global movement for accountability and support justice for Sri Lankan victims.
Global Success Stories: How Magnitsky Sanctions Make a Difference
Around the world, Magnitsky-style sanctions have achieved notable successes by holding perpetrators accountable. Here are a few impactful cases that serve as a model for similar actions needed in the case of Sri Lanka:
Russia: In response to corruption and human rights abuses, Russia has seen sanctions on high-profile individuals implicated in Sergei Magnitsky’s own case. Twenty-five Russian nationals involved in his mistreatment and death had their UK assets frozen and are banned from entering the UK. In 2023, U.S. sanctions also targeted officials like Andrei Zadachin and Danila Mikheev, who were involved in the political persecution of Kremlin critics. By freezing their assets and banning their entry, these sanctions hindered their ability to operate internationally and exposed their actions on a global stage.
China: U.S. sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act targeted Chinese officials involved in human rights abuses in Xinjiang, where over a million Uyghurs were reportedly detained in “re-education” camps. Officials like Chen Quanguo, official of the Chinese Communist Party for Xinjiang since 2016, have faced sanctions that bar them from the U.S. and have frozen their assets.
Myanmar: Following the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, the U.S. imposed extensive sanctions on Myanmar’s military leaders, including Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, responsible for atrocities against the Rohingya. These sanctions, alongside financial freezes, have significantly restricted the military’s ability to fund its operations and helped rally international opposition to Myanmar’s military regime. The U.S. also ceased all direct financial assistance to the Myanmar government, redirecting funds to civil society groups and humanitarian aid instead. Similarly, the UK has enhanced due diligence on UK-based companies to prevent funds being channelled to military-owned businesses in Myanmar.
Timeline of Accountability Efforts in Sri Lanka
A history of international calls for justice underpins current advocacy for sanctions:
2009: Sri Lanka’s civil war ends after nearly three decades of conflict. There are widespread allegations of war crimes during the conflict’s final stages, including indiscriminate attacks on civilians, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings, committed by both the Sri Lankan military and the LTTE.
2015:The UNHRC passes Resolution 30/1, urging the Sri Lankan government to address past abuses, set up a truth and reconciliation commission, and prosecute those responsible for war crimes.
2017: The UN reports that Sri Lanka has made little progress in implementing Resolution 30/1. Sri Lankan civil society groups continue to push for justice, but their efforts face resistance from the government, which has been accused of obstructing investigations into wartime atrocities.
2021: The OHCHR establishes the Sri Lanka Accountability Project under UNHRC Resolution 46/1. The project’s mandate is to collect, preserve, and analyse evidence of gross human rights violations in Sri Lanka, particularly those committed during the civil war and later incidents like the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings.
2022:Resolution 51/1 extends the mandate of the Sri Lanka Accountability Project for an additional year, recognizing the need for ongoing documentation of human rights abuses and the importance of preserving evidence for future accountability efforts.
2024: The UNHRC renews the Sri Lanka Accountability Project’s mandate for one more year, despite calls from civil society for a longer extension. See here our Joint Letter. This extension ensures continued international scrutiny and documentation of past abuses in Sri Lanka.
Taking Action: How You Can Help Advocate for UK Sanctions
If you are in the UK, your voice is vital to urge government action on sanctions for Sri Lankan war criminals. Here’s how you can help:
Contact Your MP: Send a letter to your MP urging them to support Magnitsky sanctions against Sri Lanka’s accused human rights abusers. Follow this link to find out who your MP is and here to use our letter template.
Join Our Social Media Campaigns: Share Sri Lanka Campaign’s posts on sanctions and use hashtags like #MagnitskyForSriLanka and #JusticeForSriLanka to increase awareness.
Magnitsky Month is a time to honour Sergei Magnitsky’s legacy and his fight against corruption and human rights abuses, reminding us of the power of accountability through targeted sanctions. These sanctions are a powerful tool for isolating individuals implicated in grave abuses, such as those responsible for war crimes and violations in Sri Lanka. This November, the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice joins the global movement advocating for sanctions against individuals like Shavendra Silva, Kamal Gunaratne and Pillayan, who stand accused of horrific human rights violations. Their continued impunity highlights the urgent need for international action, particularly from countries like the UK, which have yet to impose Magnitsky-style sanctions on Sri Lanka’s perpetrators. The ongoing efforts of the UN OHCHR’s Sri Lanka Accountability Project underscores the necessity of preserving evidence and pushing for justice, but without broader international pressure, these efforts risk falling short.
Magnitsky Month: Targeted Sanctions as a Tool for Justice in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice is calling on the UK government to impose targeted sanctions on key perpetrators of human rights violations in Sri Lanka.
Decades after the end of the country’s brutal civil war, war crimes and atrocities remain unaddressed, with high-ranking officials implicated in abuses continuing to enjoy impunity. The UK has a unique opportunity to advance global justice by enacting targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for these crimes.
This November, join the effort to make Magnitsky Month a turning point in the fight against impunity. This month, Sri Lanka Campaign are spotlighting the following three perpetrators:
Shavendra Silva – Chief of Defence Staff
Silva has been Army Commander since August 2019. As the leader of the 58th Division, Silva oversaw operations linked to mass atrocity crimes, including attacks on civilians, hospitals, and UN-designated No Fire Zones. His division is accused of using banned weapons and committing torture, rape and enforced disappearances. Hundreds of surrendering Tamils allegedly vanished in Silva’s custody, including prominent Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leaders who were last seen surrendering but later found executed. As his promotion shows, Silva has faced minimal accountability; international attempts at justice, like a 2011 New York case, were blocked by diplomatic immunity, though the U.S. sanctioned him in 2020.
Kamal Gunaratne – Former Defence Secretary
Since the end of the war Gunaratne has been repeatedly rewarded by promotions to influential positions, such as Deputy Ambassador in Brazil (2012-2014), and since 2019 has been Defence Secretary in Sri Lanka.
As the former commander of the 53rd Division, Gunaratne is also implicated in war crimes, including indiscriminate attacks on civilian zones and extrajudicial killings, notably of LTTE news reader Isaipriya. Post-war, Gunaratne oversaw Joseph Camp, where torture and sexual violence were widespread. He also managed Manik Farm, an internment camp where over 200,000 Tamil civilians suffered abusive conditions. Despite these allegations, he remains celebrated domestically and there have been no independent investigations into his conduct.
Pillayan- Leader of the TMVP and Former Chief Minister of the Eastern Province
Pillayan, also known as Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, has held prominent political roles in Sri Lanka, including Deputy Minister and Chief Minister of the Eastern Province. As a leader of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), Pillyan is implicated in numerous human rights abuses, including abductions, extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances targeting both civilians and political opponents. TMVP forces under his influence were also notorious for forcibly recruiting child soldiers. Pillyan is also connected to the 2005 murder of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham. Arrested for this crime in 2015, he was released in 2019 under contested circumstances. Despite these allegations, Pillyan has continued to hold influential positions within the government, and there has been limited accountability for his actions. Calls for an independent investigation into his role in human rights abuses have repeatedly been obstructed.
What Is Magnitsky Month and Why Does It Matter?
Magnitsky Month commemorates the life and legacy of Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian lawyer who was murdered in November 2009 after uncovering high-level government corruption. Following his death, the Global Magnitsky Act was enacted in 2016 to allow the U.S. to impose sanctions on perpetrators of corruption or human rights abuses- no matter where they are in the world. Other countries later followed with Magnitsky style legislation, including in Canada, the UK and parts of Europe. These sanctions often include travel bans, financial and asset freezes, and other restrictions on international dealings, effectively cutting perpetrators off from global financial networks.
Unlike broad economic sanctions, which can negatively impact entire populations, Magnitsky-style sanctions target only those directly responsible for abuses. This focused approach minimises harm to innocent citizens of the perpetrator’s country, while isolating and limiting the freedom of the guilty. For Sri Lanka, where human rights violations from the civil war era remain unaddressed, these sorts of sanctions offer a path towards justice.
While the U.S. has already sanctioned some Sri Lankan perpetrators under the Global Magnitsky Act, such as Shavendra Silva, other countries, particularly the UK, need to follow suit. With a strong commitment to human rights, the UK has an opportunity to bolster the global movement for accountability and support justice for Sri Lankan victims.
Global Success Stories: How Magnitsky Sanctions Make a Difference
Around the world, Magnitsky-style sanctions have achieved notable successes by holding perpetrators accountable. Here are a few impactful cases that serve as a model for similar actions needed in the case of Sri Lanka:
Russia: In response to corruption and human rights abuses, Russia has seen sanctions on high-profile individuals implicated in Sergei Magnitsky’s own case. Twenty-five Russian nationals involved in his mistreatment and death had their UK assets frozen and are banned from entering the UK. In 2023, U.S. sanctions also targeted officials like Andrei Zadachin and Danila Mikheev, who were involved in the political persecution of Kremlin critics. By freezing their assets and banning their entry, these sanctions hindered their ability to operate internationally and exposed their actions on a global stage.
China: U.S. sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act targeted Chinese officials involved in human rights abuses in Xinjiang, where over a million Uyghurs were reportedly detained in “re-education” camps. Officials like Chen Quanguo, official of the Chinese Communist Party for Xinjiang since 2016, have faced sanctions that bar them from the U.S. and have frozen their assets.
Myanmar: Following the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, the U.S. imposed extensive sanctions on Myanmar’s military leaders, including Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, responsible for atrocities against the Rohingya. These sanctions, alongside financial freezes, have significantly restricted the military’s ability to fund its operations and helped rally international opposition to Myanmar’s military regime. The U.S. also ceased all direct financial assistance to the Myanmar government, redirecting funds to civil society groups and humanitarian aid instead. Similarly, the UK has enhanced due diligence on UK-based companies to prevent funds being channelled to military-owned businesses in Myanmar.
Timeline of Accountability Efforts in Sri Lanka
A history of international calls for justice underpins current advocacy for sanctions:
Taking Action: How You Can Help Advocate for UK Sanctions
If you are in the UK, your voice is vital to urge government action on sanctions for Sri Lankan war criminals. Here’s how you can help:
Magnitsky Month is a time to honour Sergei Magnitsky’s legacy and his fight against corruption and human rights abuses, reminding us of the power of accountability through targeted sanctions. These sanctions are a powerful tool for isolating individuals implicated in grave abuses, such as those responsible for war crimes and violations in Sri Lanka. This November, the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice joins the global movement advocating for sanctions against individuals like Shavendra Silva, Kamal Gunaratne and Pillayan, who stand accused of horrific human rights violations. Their continued impunity highlights the urgent need for international action, particularly from countries like the UK, which have yet to impose Magnitsky-style sanctions on Sri Lanka’s perpetrators. The ongoing efforts of the UN OHCHR’s Sri Lanka Accountability Project underscores the necessity of preserving evidence and pushing for justice, but without broader international pressure, these efforts risk falling short.
Recent Posts
Exhuming the Truth: Sri Lanka’s Mass Graves and the Search for the Disappeared
August 26, 202643 Years Since Black July: The Accountability Gap Revisited
July 20, 2026From Welikada to Negombo: four decades of impunity in Sri Lanka’s prisons
July 13, 2026Archives
Categories