- People must boldly implement the proposed social, economic and political reforms to build a prosperous and productive Sri Lanka in the coming decade, President Ranil Wickremesinghe says in his New Year message – stresses he understands the great burdens that are placed on and the setbacks that have suffered by the people due to the abject economic collapse.
- The Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government issues circular stating that a special advance exceeding not more than Rs. 4,000 will be paid to government officers for the year 2023.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe expresses condolences over the demise of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI aged 95 – states Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI leaves a footprint of “ecumenical dialogue.” – The former Pope led the Catholic Church for fewer than eight years until 2013, becoming the first Pope to resign since Pope Gregory XII in 1415.
- Former President of Peradeniya University’s Students Union Anuradha Vidanage, who was arrested in connection with the assault on former Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. Athula Senaratne and his son, remanded until January 04 after being produced before the Kandy Magistrate’s Court.
- International economic news aggregator Bloomberg reports Sri Lanka’s inflation slowed in December for a third straight month as ‘tight monetary policy’ crumpled demand and supply conditions ‘normalised.’ – says the CCPI eased to 57.2% from a year ago as claimed by the statistics department compared with 61% in November and a median of 56.6% in a Bloomberg survey – Data shows moderating global commodity and food prices eased price pressures, transport costs rose 132.1% from a year go, while food prices rose 64.4%.
- The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) amends the MTA6 and MTA8 forms used for vehicle ownership transfers, effective from December 30, 2022, says the forms have been amended with the aim of improving customer service.
- Kanrich Finance Limited (KFL) directed to settle its public liabilities in full within the period from 26.12.2022 to 28.02.2023 in terms of the Finance Business Act, due to continuous capital deficiencies faced by the finance company – CBSL Monetary Board issued the directive as a move to strengthen the non-bank financial sector under the ‘Masterplan for Consolidation.’
- Social Activist and prominent Catholic Voice Chirantha Amarasinghe accuses ‘devotees’ of the Rajapaksa clan of hijacking the ‘Aragalaya’ protest, produces evidence for one ‘Master Sunil Jayantha’ claiming that his involvement with the Aragalaya leads to a bigger plot along with controversial pro-Rajapaksa critic Dan Priyasad.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe directs the Secretary of the President’s Fund to clear applications backlog by December 31st, allocates Rs. 1,500 million for medical aid, asserts work has been completed on 10,360 applications of the 11,000 applications received.
- Press conference called in by JVP/NPP Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake ends without any questions from media persons for the first time in history – MP stresses the government shall not gamble with the mandate of the people.
