NEW DELHI: India is likely to back Sri Lanka on the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution over alleged war crimes if it is put to vote in Geneva on Thursday, officials said, attributing the decision to measures taken by the new government in Colombo to empower Tamil minorities.

The United Nations Human Rights Council should adopt a resolution ensuring a robust international role in Sri Lanka’s justice mechanism for abuses during the country’s brutal civil war, Human Rights Watch said today.

PUNE: A 14-day joint training exercise ‘Mitra Shakti 2015’, involving military contingents from India and Sri Lanka, will begin at the Aundh military camp in the city on Tuesday.

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said he will make a special statement about the financial situation of the country within the next two days. It will also reveal the manner in which world economic trends influenced Sri Lanka.

Thanking the India’s Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for helping arrive at a decision to not shoot fishermen at sea, during talks with Sri Lanka, the National Fish workers’ Forum has requested him to consult Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and find a permanent solution to all the issues faced by the fisher-folk.

Sri Lanka has the opportunity to investigate alleged instances of human rights violations during the war through a domestic mechanism with the new resolution placed at the UNHRC, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said.

President Maithripala Sirisena said Sri Lanka will act with determination as a pioneer of eco-sensitive civilization that is emerging in the 21st century to achieve the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and targets that have been adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

DMK chief M Karunanidhi today cautioned India against supporting a “watered down” resolution by the US on Sri Lanka in the UN Human Rights Council over alleged rights violations during the last phase of civil war against LTTE in 2009 in the island nation.

President Maithripala Sirisena today met with the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon on the sidelines of the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

President Maithripala Sirisena currently in New York to attend the 70th UN Summit met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday (25) on the sidelines of the Summit.

Six persons died and two were reported missing following a landslide at Lily Estate, Ramboda yesterday evening. Several houses of estate workers were covered with earth following the landslide.

The Sri Lankan rupee ended weaker near its all-time low on Friday as importer demand for the greenback outpaced some exporter dollar sales and inward remittances ahead of the central bank’s policy rate decision.

This resolution marks an important step toward a credible transitional justice process, owned by Sri Lankans and with the support and involvement of the international community, US Secretary of State John Kerry said.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka arrived at an understanding with key member nations of the UNHRC to conduct a domestic probe with the support of Commonwealth and other foreign parties, under the local judicial system.

Hajj symbolizes the spirit of unity when millions of Muslims living in different continents, speaking different languages and belonging to different nationalities and cultures offer a common prayer to Allah, said President Maithripala Sirisena.