External Affairs Minister GL Peiris today hosted a “comprehensive briefing” about the government’s claim of an “LTTE revival” for international diplomats in Colombo, calling on states to take action against organisations that were recently banned by the government and suppress terrorist funding activities, according to a statement released by the official government news website.

The minister said at the briefing, which he held alongside the Chief of National Intelligence Major General Kapila Hendawitharana from the Ministry of Defence, that there was compelling evidence regarding the remittance of considerable sums of money from overseas for terrorist activity.

Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa said Thursday he is no hurry to hold snap elections next year, but is ready to do so if the opposition requested it. See Colombo Gazette’s report here

Speaking to newspaper editors at a breakfast meeting, Mr. Rajapaksa said his term did not end till 2016, but he was prepared to hold presidential or general elections if the United National Party (UNP) formally requested it.

The body of a 25 year old single mother was found in Kaaththaankudi, the Uthayan reported.

The body which was found hanging with her feet touching the house according to police, has been sent to Batticaloa hospital for a post-mortem.

The family of the woman, who has not been identified have demanded that a full investigation be carried out.

The Sri Lankan government should take legal action against the Bishop of Mannar Rayappu Joseph for “helping the LTTE”, the Bodu Bala Sena said according to The Island.

"If the government had the backbone and if its conscience was clear it should without hesitation arrest the Mannar Bishop for atrocities committed by the now defunct terrorist outfit," Gnanasara said.

A leading Colombo-based think tank, the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), has filed a complaint before Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission against a state-owned television network over a news broadcast last July which claimed the CPA had organised a meeting in support of the LTTE. The complaint is to be heard Thursday.

Independent Television Network (ITN) launched in April 1979 as a private company, was taken over by the Sri Lankan government in June 1979 and declared a Government Owned Public Company in April 1992.

The complaint filed by CPA and its executive director, Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, against ITN and its chairman, Rosmand Senaratne, concerns a Sinhala language news broadcast on 14 July 2013.

The broadcast claimed CPA and Dr. Saravanamuttu organised a meeting in Ampara that day to "further the interests of the LTTE" and that the meeting was cut short due to the intervention of Buddhist clergy and public of the area.

Stating "no employee of CPA or its Executive Director organized or was present at any meeting in Ampara on 14th July 2013," the complaint said "the language used by ITN in its news item was incendiary and it intentionally distorted the facts with the aim to arouse public opinion against CPA and its Executive Director and lower their standing in the eyes of the public."

Northern Provincial Council (NPC) Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran has hit out at President Mahinda Rajapaksa for failing to honour pledges made regarding the NPC, reported Ceylon Today.

Speaking at the Kilinochchi District Development Committee, which ended without resolution according to the Uthayan, Wigneswaran said that the president has not met several pledges that he made regarding the “successful governance” of the provincial council, but instead the government has been trying to take “the upper hand”.

"The Provincial Council system was introduced to devolve powers to the provinces under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. However, the Central Government is attempting to tighten its grip over the Provincial Councils.

"Since powers were not devolved to the NPC, I met Rajapaksa in Colombo on 2 January and explained to him the need of devolving powers to the NPC.

"He made several pledges to me on the successful governance of the NPC. However, he has not done anything so far to fulfil those pledges.

A prisoner who was attacked by a guard at Jaffna prison has died from his injuries today, reported Uthayan and Tamilwin.

The prisoner, identified as 56 year old Krishnaswamy Balakrishnacettiyar, was attacked on April 20, and admitted to Jaffna hospital with head injuries.

The guard involved in the incident has been suspended, sources at the prison told Uthayan at the time.

A third man has been arrested in Jaffna by Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) officers in connection with posters reading 'Tamil Eelam will blossom' that alleged appeared by Jaffna Hindu College last week, the Uthayan reported.

Rajaratnam Sutharshan, a 30 year old owner of a computer centre on Manippai road was arrested last Wednesday, accused of helping to produce the poster.

Police allege that evidence of him having printed the posters was found on his computer. His computer centre has been sealed shut.

The Sri Lankan Army has taken over public land in Pudhukudiyiruppu over the site of the public market, the Northern Provincial Council member Dr S. Sivamohan was cited in the Tamil Mirror as saying.

"The army is making financial profit, by setting up their shops in a land that is used by the public for trade," Dr Sivamohan said.

He further explained: "Our people, with no marketing platform to market their agricultural products, are subject to difficulties. I severely condemn these activities which will result in even more harm to civilian activities."

"This affects the livelihoods of our people very badly, who suffered by the war, have only been resettled in their lands recently and are gradually getting involved in farming activities in an attempt to improve themselves financially."

Easter mass in a church in Trincomalee (Picture: Tamil Guardian)