The TNA has taken control of the Chavakachcheri Urban Council, despite the TNPF having won more seats, through the support of the EPDP, SLFP and UNP.

The ITAK/TNA chairperson, Sivamangai Ramanathan, was elected with 12 of the votes.

The EPDP, SLFP and UNP are reported to have openly declared their support for the TNA candidate keeping the TNPF, which won the most seats at the local election in February, from controlling the council.

Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena pledged to further deepen bi-lateral relations with China in a congratulatory message to China’s Premier Xi Jinping.

Congratulating Mr Jinping on securing another term as President, Mr Sirisena said,

“It is my firm belief that our collective resolves to further deepen our relations at all sphere will continue under your esteemed leadership. Please accept Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration for your Excellency and the people of China, and my personal good wishes for your health and happiness.”

The Jaffna Muncipal Council has elected Tamil National Alliance candidate Emmanuel Arnold as its Mayor, reports asiantribune.com

Beating candidates from the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) and the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) Mr Arnold received 18 votes with the other two candidates receiving 13 votes each.

Thurairajah Eesan of the TNA was elected as the Deputy Mayor of the Jaffna municipality. 

The stay order preventing legal against Sri Lanka's former defence secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was further extended today until March 28. 

The decision marks the fourth time the order has been kept in place, preventing the Financial Crime Investigations Division (FCID) from taking any legal action against accusations of misappropriating public funds in constructing the DA Rajapaksa Museum and Memorial in Medamulana.

Mr Rajapaksa oversaw the military offensive during the final phase of the armed conflict, where tens of thousands of Tamil civilians were massacred.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is to decide next week on whether or not to support a no-confidence motion against the current Sri Lankan prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

Mr Sumanthiran was quoted by the Daily Mirror as saying the party's parliamentary group would meet on April 2 to discuss the issue and decide its position. 

The no-confidence motion, reportedly signed by 55 MPs including a state minister and two deputy ministers, is to be debated in parliament on April 4. 

The Sri Lankan navy has denied harassing Tamil Nadu fishermen, as reported by Indian media outlets on Sunday, describing the report as "baseless". 

Thousands marched in cities across Australia to demand an end to its asylum processing policy and close its camps in Manus Island and Nauru.

A delegation of Tamil representatives from the TNA and diaspora organisations met with US officials this month. 

The group met with Deputy US Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Kelley E Currie, and Ambassador Alice J Wells, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia.

The Tamil National Alliance would not have won elections if the Rajapaksas had not disarmed government-backed Tamil paramilitary groups, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has said.

In a thinly veiled admission of the intimidation and violence meted out by paramilitary groups to suppress Tamil nationalist politics and dissent, Gotabhaya said that by disarming the paramilitaries before the 2013 Northern Provincial Council elections, “we gave them a chance to select their own people.”

The Sri Lankan government said the country had emerged "proud" at the 37th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva this month. 

"Sri Lanka concluded the 37th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council with its head held high with the acceptance of Sri Lanka’s Universal Periodic Review Report followed by a strong supportive joint-statement by the United States, United Kingdom and other member nations," the government's news portal noted in a feature published today.