- PM Dinesh Gunawardena informs Parliament that there is only a “draft” agreement with IMF: agrees to submit it when finalized, to relevant Parliamentary Committees: on 1st September, it was reported that IMF staff and Sri Lankan authorities have reached a staff-level agreement with a 48-month arrangement of about USD 2.9 billion.
- Cabinet approves draft Appropriation Bill for 2023:
Recurrent Expenditure Rs.4,634 bn: Capital Expenditure Rs.3,245 bn. - Stock market trading halted for 2nd consecutive day due to the S&P SL20 index dropping over 5% from previous close: ASPI dips by 413 points (4.28%) to 9237: S&P SL20 drops by 174 points (5.70%) to 2875.
- World Bank Country Director Faris Hadad Zervos says he admires the commitment and measures taken by the Government to overcome the economic crisis.
- Committee on Public
Finance chaired by SJB MP Harsha de Silva refuses to approve Order under the Strategic Development Project Act which was scheduled for debate in Parliament: claims
Board of Investment failed to provide a proper analysis on the matter. - Capital market regulator SEC acts against 16 persons for misconduct that is said to have taken place in the past: such persons warned or subjected to compounding, without an admission of liability, as provided in the SEC Act.
- Secret PR campaign said to have been started to clear image of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa: aim of campaign said to be to convince people that he was misguided in making crucial decisions, by those close to him.
- Cabinet spokesman Dr Bandula Gunawardena says the Government will provide lunch for another 1 million school students, with immediate effect.
- In an election in Parliament to choose the Chairperson for COPE, SLPP-led Government will field SLPP MP Professor Ranjith Bandara: SJB nominates MP Eran Wickramaratne.
- Former President Maithripala Sirisena joins farming community protest organized by the SLFP in Polonnaruwa: Sirisena’s son Daham who is SLFP’s West Polonnaruwa Chief Organiser also joins.
