UK sanctions former Sri Lankan commanders over civil war abuses

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain on Monday imposed sanctions on three former senior Sri Lankan military commanders and one former Tamil Tiger rebel commander over human rights violations during a civil war that ended in 2009.

The measures, which include bans on travelling to Britain and asset freezes, target the former chief of staff of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, Shavendra Silva, former commander of the Navy Wasantha Karannagoda and former commander of the Army Jagath Jayasuriya.

Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, known as Karuna Amman, a former commander in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, was also sanctioned. Amman split from the LTTE before the war ended and later led a paramilitary group working for the Sri Lankan Army.

The United Nations estimates that 80,000-100,000 people died in the 26-year war between government forces and Tamil separatists.

Sri Lanka's army and security forces have been accused of war crimes, including extrajudicial killings, torture and sexual violence, and of abductions and torture long after the end of the war.

A U.N. panel in 2011 found "credible allegations" of serious violations by both sides "some of which would amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity". Sri Lanka has always denied such allegations, but refused to cooperate with international investigators.

In a statement, British foreign minister David Lammy said: "The UK government is committed to human rights in Sri Lanka, including seeking accountability for human rights violations and abuses which took place during the civil war, and which continue to have an impact on communities today."

(Reporting by Sarah Young; Writing by Catarina Demony and Sam Tabahriti; Editing by Sachin Ravikumar and Kevin Liffey)