I have been following events in Sri Lanka very closely and am deeply concerned by the tragic humanitarian situation in the northern part of the country. Tragically, civilians have been caught up in a situation of absolute terror resulting in suffering on a massive scale. As the UN has said, the loss of life has been appalling and there are major humanitarian challenges ahead.

During the fighting, the Conservatives called for a ceasefire on both sides to allow civilians to leave the conflict area, to be monitored by international observers including the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross. We are extremely concerned about conditions in the camps established by the Sri Lankan government for internally displaced people and that they meet international humanitarian standards. We have repeatedly urged the Sri Lankan government to take all possible measures to prevent further suffering by allowing UN and relief organisations full and unrestricted access to provide shelter, food, water, and medicine, and to oversee the screening process. The Shadow Foreign Secretary, William Hague, raised these concerns with the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Hon Rohitha Bogollagama, when he met with him earlier this month.

William Hague has also asked for the UK government to consider the Conservatives’ proposal for an internationally managed development fund to channel relief aid to the north of the country. This is a mechanism which we hope the Tamil diasporas from around the world could constructively support and which we believe would be seen as independent and impartial.

Now it is imperative that Sri Lankan Government take immediate steps to promote national reconciliation and integration so that renewed violence does not occur. The only way forward for long-term stability in Sri Lanka is a negotiated settlement that satisfies the concerns and legitimate aspirations of all Sri Lankans including Tamils and preserves democracy. Although we cannot lay down the details from outside, Conservatives believe that strong international support is essential for a peace settlement in the country. We have called on the Sri Lankan government to engage all ethnic groups, in the spirit of partnership rather than ruler and ruled, in a genuine political process of reconciliation.

The information coming from the conflict zone, currently administered by the Sri Lankan Army, suggests that human rights violations are rampant. Allegations of rape and mistreatment of civilians by the Sri Lankan Army have been made. These allegations need to be investigated and the perpetrators should be tried by an independent mechanism.

The general deterioration of the human rights situation in the country along with restrictions of the media must also be urgently addressed and William Hague has called for an UN Observer Mission to visit Sri Lanka as soon as possible.

I will continue to monitor the situation closely over the coming weeks.

Gurcharan