'The army had not acquired armaments from the UK during the fourth phase of the conflict,' said Army Commander Gene. Jagath Jayasuriya in an interview with The Island newspaper.

The British press on Wednesday (August 19) reported that cross-party Committees of MPs on Arms Export Control called for an investigation into whether weapons supplied by Britain were used in the Sri Lankan army campaign.

Meeting local and Colombo-based Indian press at the Armoured Corps Regimental Headquarters, the Army Chief, revealed that the West had denied ammunition needed for sniper weapons.

SLAF, SLN, too, reject British claim

The SLAF and SLN, too, yesterday dismissed claims that Sri Lanka had received a 'wide variety of weapons' from the UK to finish off the Tigers.

Authoritative sources said that statements attributed to British parliamentarians were a joke as Sri Lanka had not acquired any ships, aircrafts, armoured fighting vehicles, armoured personnel carriers, artillery pieces, mortars or any other heavy or light equipment over the past several years.

Sources said that the British had even declined to supply ammunition for 30 mm guns mounted on SLN's Fast Attack Craft. Responding to queries, sources said that Sri Lanka took delivery of ten 30 mm guns from the UK way back in 1996 along with 6,000 rounds of ammunition. Although the British had delivered 2,000 more rounds of ammunition to Sri Lanka later, they turned down subsequent requests for the same, sources said.