Illankai Tamil ArasuKatchchi (ITAK) Chairman C.V.K. Sivagnanam said the Party has decided not to pursue the No-Confidence Motion against Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran following TNA Leader R. Sampanthan's intervention to bring about an amicable settlement to the dispute. Sivagnanam, who led his 21-member team in the 'No-Confidence' bid told Ceylon Today, "We have settled the issue after R. Sampanthan intervened in the matter and also because the Chief Minister abandoned his earlier demand that two ministers go on compulsory leave and table letters of assurance that they will not interfere in the financial and power abuse probe against them.

"We want a Council free from problems and conflicts but, as an individual, I still have my reservations about the Chief Minister," he said. He added that they have been fighting and wasting their time on an unwarranted dispute. "In my view, we all need to sit down, correct ourselves and have more dialogue in the future." He also noted: "Our team failed and we must act with joint responsibility." He said the two ministers against whom no proof of guilt could be discovered were asked to submit letters. "I don't think that is necessary and even Sampanthan has agreed to it." Sivagnanam also stressed that even the Chief Minister has come down on that demand.

Minister T. Kurukularaja who was found guilty has submitted his resignation to the Chief Minister last evening. An official attached to the Chief Minister's office said that Wigneswaran had agreed to withdraw his demand mainly because R. Sampanthan assured he would 'certainly advise the two ministers that they should not impede an independent legal inquiry which was a concern'.

Also, moves have been made to end the commotion that was caused when Bishop of Jaffna Rev. Justin Fernando Gnanapragasam and Sri Somasundara Desiha Gnanasampatha Brahmacharya Swamigal, called on the NPC to support the Chief Minister in all his functions and drop the 'No Confidence' motion against him. The two priests urged the Chief Minister to allow the two ministers continue in office but that at the same time he could go ahead with an independent inquiry without any disruptions caused by members of the Council while all of them acted with a sense of collective responsibly.

A major stir was ignited on 13 June, 2017 when the Chief Minister came down hard on four ministers for allegedly committing financial fraud. He also asked two ministers to resign and two others to go on compulsory leave until a second independent probe was held which the Council rejected on the grounds that such an additional probe was not called for. TNA Leader R. Sampanthan expressed in a letter that the Chief Minister's punitive action against the other two ministers who had not been found guilty had caused a stir in the Council and urged him to take a remedial action pertaining to the two Ministers who have not been found guilty.

Due to the fracas, the Council was torn apart with different opinions and Sivagnanam and 20 other members to Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray to submit the 'No Confidence'motion. The group challenged the Chief Minister to prove his majority in the Council to preempt his ousting. The sudden crisis that threatened the functioning of the Council saw the Chief Minister receiving overwhelming support from the masses in the North. They took to the streets proclaiming their support for him and protesting that the Council should 'drop the idea' of trying to oust Wigneswaran or face grave repercussions.

Nalini Kirubakaran, a 38-year-old at the rehabilitation camp for Sri Lankan Tamils in Tiruchi, became the first naturalised Indian citizen from the Kottapattu camp to vote in a general election on Friday.

The Catholic Church has not accepted proposals of the National Peoples Power (NPP) or the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) over the probes into the Easter Sunday attacks, Member of the Communications Committee of the Archdiocese of Colombo, Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando said today.

An expectant mother who developed labour pains on her way to hospital by boat had delivered the child onboard the ferry near Nagadeepa. She had been first admitted to the Nagadeepa Base Hospital and on the advice of doctors had been transferred to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital by ferry.

Small nations like Sri Lanka will be adversely affected if the current conflict between Israel and Iran escalates, Presidential Advisor Ruwan Wijewardene said today.

An Gazette Extraordinary was issued declaring all services connected to the supply of electricity and or distribution of petroleum products and fuel as essential services from yesterday. The notification issued by Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake.

The one-month general amnesty period announced by the Defence Ministry today will not be applicable to commissioned officers who do not report for duty without leave.

The 19-year-old Sri Lankan national charged in the mass killing of a newcomer family in Ottawa has no plan to seek bail, his lawyer says.

With the Presidential Election scheduled to be held in the first week of October, political parties have begun vigorous campaigns in electorates as well as closed door discussions with parliamentarians in a bid to secure a basic 50 percent vote base which will win them the presidency.

Notwithstanding the internal friction within the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) resulting in changes in party's leadership positions, the Election Commission clarified its role in accepting nominations for SLFP candidates in the event that internal conflicts persist beyond the declaration of elections.

Editor of the official Catholic Sinhala weekly ‘Gnanartha Pradeepaya’, Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando reported to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today for an investigation related to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Sri Lankan Rupee remains steady against the US Dollar at commercial banks in Sri Lanka today (Apr 19) compared to Thursday. According to Seylan Bank, the buying and selling rates of the US Dollar are unchanged at Rs. 295 and Rs. 305.50, respectively.

It is reported that the Presidential Security Division has taken over the security of the visiting Iranian President – Ebrahim Raisi, who will arrive at Sri Lanka on April 24 for the inauguration of the Uma Oya project.

Sri Lanka remains on high alert as Canadian leaders may make genocide allegations next month when the country marks the war victory, according to a diplomatic source.

The respondent parties in the first application filed before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court under the newly enacted Online Safety Act, raised objections challenging the maintainability of the application.

The Court of Appeal has issued notice on former Member of Parliament Hirunika Premachandra, requiring her to appear before court on May 8 in connection with a contempt of court application.

The Catholic Church has received the remaining parts of the report submitted by the presidential commission which probed the Easter Sunday attacks, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said today. Cardinal Ranjith said the church had received it three weeks ago. “A team of lawyers are studying the report and we will come up with a statement on it once the study is completed,” he told a briefing.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) arrested two suspects, including a retired Major of the Sri Lanka Army for fraudulently obtaining money from individuals promising employment in the Russian army.

The Colombo District Court today further extended its enjoining order preventing former President Maithripala Sirisena from functioning as the chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). This order will be effective till May 9. The Colombo District Court made this order following a lawsuit filed by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

Sri Lanka is considering providing free visas to over 50 countries, it was reported. According to Tourism Ministry sources, a proposal in this regard is to be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers next week.

According to the family members, the funeral service for former Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma is scheduled to take place this Friday (10).