- Disaster Management Centre calls for 2 minutes of silence across the country today from 9.25am to 9.27am, in memory of those who lost their lives during the 2004 Tsunami.
- Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena says there is a huge gap between the
state’s revenue and expenditure: explains average monthly income is Rs.145 bn while monthly expenditure is Rs.157 bn: of which, the salary bill is Rs.93 bn and pensions Rs.27 bn: asserts the new tax proposals will only affect 10% of the population. - Atmospheric depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal enters through the East Coast and moves across the country over the weekend: likely to move to the Western sea area today: heavy showers above 100mm likely.
- Cardinal Ranjith says the present situation in the country could have been averted if the country continued the practice of producing everything that can be made locally: laments people have got used to importing everything that can easily be produced within the country.
- Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Minister Mahinda Amaraweera says 4 Government institutions under the Ministry of Wild-life & Forest Resources Conservation have earned a record income of Rs.6,693 mn during this year.
- President Ranil Wickremasinghe grants a special Presidential amnesty to 309 prisoners for Christmas, under Article 34 of the Constitution.
- SJB Deputy National Organiser MP S M Marikkar says that in the 1st month
in 2023, people’s earnings will dwindle due to the Govt’s “blood-sucking tax policy”: also says the Ministry of Power will further burden the people by increasing electricity tariffs and 10-hr power cuts. - National Building Research Organisation issues landslide early warnings in 5 districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya: also request people of those areas to be alert to landslides, slope failures, rock falls, cutting failures, and ground subsidence.
- Police say statements from more than 75 persons including almost all the family members of murdered businessman Dinesh Schaffter have been recorded so far: also say suspects involved in the murder have not been identified so far.
- Jaffna Kings win the Lanka Premier League Cricket Tournament 2022 beating Colombo Stars by 2 wickets: this is the 3rd consecutive occasion that Jaffna Kings have won this tournament: Colombo Stars – 163/5 (20): Jaffna Kings – 164/8 (19.2).
