Prime Minister David Cameron has told the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa that he has until March to conduct an independent investigation into alleged war crimes.
At a news conference at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) in Colombo, Mr Cameron said the issue would remain high on the international agenda.
He said: "The Sri Lankan government needs to go further and faster on human rights and reconciliation.
"I accept it takes time but I think the important thing is to get on the right track.
"This issue is not going to go away, it's an issue of international concern."
The UN and rights groups say as many as 40,000 civilians may have been killed in the final stages of the civil war in Sri Lanka in May 2009.
But Mr Rajapaksa has denied any civilians were killed.
The PM's visit is the first by a foreign leader to the region since 1948 He has also blocked all calls for an independent probe into claims of war crimes committed by government forces against the Tamil population in the northern Jaffna region.
In response to Mr Cameron's comments, a senior Sri Lankan minister reaffirmed that the country's government would "definitely" not allow it.
Economic development minister Basil Rajapaksa, who is the president's brother, said: "Why should we have an internal inquiry?
"We will object to it ... Definitely we are not going to allow it."
Mr Cameron said Mr Rajapaksa wanted more time to address the claims, but put him on notice to deliver by March or he would push for an international investigation through the auspices of the UN human rights council.
He added: "I sense that they do want to make progress on these issues and it will help having international pressure to help make that matter."
Both men held a meeting on Friday night to discuss the human rights issue, where Mr Cameron said "very strong views were expressed on both sides".
It comes after Mr Cameron was mobbed by Tamil protesters who claim relatives were murdered by the state.
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