- US-based New Fortress Energy Inc. likely to pull out of its agreement with the Govt to acquire 40% of shares of Yugadanavi Power Plant in Kerawalapitiya, along with a monopoly to supply LNG in Sri Lanka.
- State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe says the Ministry of Finance is in the process of establishing a Casino Regulatory Authority: refuses to provide a time-line for its establishment: says the procedure would require a lot of legal work.
- JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake says Sri Lanka will have to find a new planet to locate itself after declaring bankruptcy since no country will ever give it a loan now.
- IRD Commissioner General Ranjith Hapuarachchi says the tax revenue target of Rs.3 trillion as per Budget 2023 will be extremely difficult to achieve: cites reason as the negative economic growth estimated for 2023: after the announcement of bankruptcy, growth for 2022 revised down from 4.5% (positive) to 8.7% (negative): 2023 also expected to be over 5% (negative).
- Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa demands answers from the Govt on the killing of a man believed to be connected to the Easter Sunday attack: Badurdeen Mohamed Harnas, 38, was hacked to death by a group in Mattakkuliya while being out on bail.
- State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says there would be no shortage of
milk powder in the coming days: assures necessary arrangements are being made in that regard. - Former CB Governor Dr. Indrajith Coomaraswamy says “the perimeter for Debt that has to be treated can only be determined once the terms for the treatment of the external Debt are finalised”: Coomaraswamy has been one of the key advocates of Sri Lanka’s Forex debt default and a Member of the “Presidential Advisory Group on Multilateral Engagement and Debt Sustainability” which initiated the Forex debt default that has now led to Sri Lanka’s being ostracized in the global community.
- Foreign Minister Ali Sabry expresses regret over Sri Lanka’s decision to refuse the burial of COVID infected bodies: says the island lost almost all its Middle Eastern allies as a consequence: says he had strongly opposed the decision at the Cabinet: insists the decision was devoid of logic, science & empathy.
- Sri Lanka Cricket Chief Selector Pramodya Wickramasinghe writes to SLC Secretary Mohan De Silva regarding recently axed national cricketer Chamika Karunaratne: says the top all rounder was “more interested in meeting ladies”.
- Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by 4 wickets and level the series 1-1: Afghanistan 313/8 (50 overs): Sri Lanka 314/6 (49.4 overs): Man of the Match – Charith Asalanka 83*.
