President Maithripala Sirisena said he had been able to “tone down” a US-initiated censure resolution soon after defeating coming to power in January 2015. (PTI)

President Sirisena has asked Donald Trump to pressure the UN Human Rights Council to drop war crimes allegations against the country’s troops. 

President’s office has mentioned that he had sent a “special message” to president-elect Trump seeking US intervention at the council, where Sri Lanka faces censure for wartime atrocities.

“I sent a special message to Donald Trump asking him to support us at the (council),” the President said. “I am asking him to help completely clear my country (of war crimes allegations) and allow us to start afresh.” 

President Sirisena has stated that he was making a similar appeal to the incoming UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres according to Indian media.

However, during a visit by outgoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to Sri Lanka last month, Sirisena had asked for more time to investigate war crimes, a sensitive political issue.