Sri Lanka, March 26 -- Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has categorically denied the UK government's allegations of widespread human rights violations during Sri Lanka's military operations against the LTTE and called on the incumbent government to resolutely stand by and defend former armed forces personnel who face persecution by foreign governments and organisations.

Issuing a statement regarding the recent decision by the UK government to impose sanctions including travel bans and asset freezes against Sri Lanka's former Chief of Defence Staff Shavendra Silva, former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda and former Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya, the then-President Rajapaksa expressed displeasure that the action comes over 'unprove...