Parliament will debate the no-faith motion, moved by the Joint Opposition (JO), against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, from 10.00 am to 9.00 pm today. The vote on the motion will be taken at 9.00 pm as per a decision by party leaders.

All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) led by Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) led by Minister Mano Ganeshan have decided to vote against the no-confidence motion on Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader Minister Rauff Hakeem said today his party decided to vote against the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived at the President’s residence a short while ago for another discussion with President Maithripala Sirisena in view of the no-faith motion against him in Parliament.

The Joint Opposition (JO) will set up a committee consisting of MPs to organise a series of protests against the new Inland Revenue Act, which took effect on Sunday, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says.

The Parliamentary Group of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has unanimously decided to request Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to step down from his position, Minister Chandima Weerakkody said.

A special meeting between President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is being held at the President’s official residence in Colombo, sources said.

The introduction of the Inland Revenue Act has rationalized the incentive schemes provided to investors, said Minister of Finance and Media Mangala Samaraweera.

Leader of the New Left Front, Member of Parliament Vasudeva Nanayakkara says, “If a caretaker government is appointed and action is taken towards holding a General Election, and if Ranil Wickremesinghe comes into the Opposition and tries to obstruct such a caretaker government, I have to mention that we will support such a government.”

Sri Lanka’s former president Mahinda Rajapaksa has expressed hope that incumbent Maithripala Sirisena – who was responsible for his ouster in 2015 – will support a no-confidence motion backed by the joint opposition against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The United States’ GSP trade incentive program me for Sri Lanka will become active again on April 22, the US Embassy said yesterday.

The Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scanner purchased for the Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama, with public funds collected through a campaign supported by Manusath Derana, was officially vested with the people today (April 1).

According to the Ministry of Finance a new Inland Revenue Act is scheduled to come into effect today (1st April). Following the new Inland Revenue Act, a number of tax amendments will take place with effect from tomorrow (2nd April).

Secretary of the United National Freedom Front and former UNP provincial councillor Maithri Gunaratne, was arrested by the Kadugannawa police with two shotguns, at Pilimathalawa, Police said.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) yesterday said it would, on April 04, vote for the no-confidence motion, moved by the Joint Opposition (JO) against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajith Coomaraswamy met Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Vigneswaran in Jaffna yesterday.