The value of Britain's arms sales overseas increased last year to £1.7bn ($2.4bn), sparking criticism of the government for allowing weapons sales to countries embroiled in conflicts and to states with poor human rights records. The Department of Trade and Industry approved licences for military exports to Angola, Colombia and Sri Lanka, which have internal conflicts. It also granted licences for Bahrain, Indonesia and Turkey, which have been criticised over their human rights records.