The committee recently appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers to examine the United Kingdom’s (UK) decision to impose sanctions on four Sri Lankans — including three former military commanders — has held initial discussions and is scheduled to convene soon for a comprehensive round of talks, it is learnt.

The committee, which was appointed to submit a report with recommendations related to the UK’s decision, is composed of Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath, Minister of Justice and National Integration, attorney Harshana Nanayakkara, and Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd.).

When queried by The Daily Morning regarding the progress of the committee proceedings, Jayasekara said that they had already held initial discussions. “Initial discussions were held. We are going to meet again to have a comprehensive round of discussions soon,” he said.

The UK imposed sanctions on four Sri Lankans, including former Army Commanders, retired Generals Shavendra Silva and Jagath Jayasuriya, the former Navy Commander, retired Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda and former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam military commander Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman, over alleged human rights abuses during Sri Lanka’s internal conflict.