- Central Bank’s “fixed exchange rate policy” since 12th May 2022 now enters the 9th month with the Sri Lankan Rupee being “fixed” in a range around Rs.370 per USD: analysts expect a “floating exchange rate policy” to be introduced soon once again by the IMF: Rupee likely to depreciate sharply thereafter in keeping with weak international trade figures and very low forex inflows.
- State Defence Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon says the Army cadre will be slashed to 135,000 from the current approved cadre of 200,783, by 2024: a cut of almost one-third in 2 years: cadre to be halved to 100,000 by 2030: analysts warn of the danger of rendering almost 100,000 well-trained young persons jobless, in a time of acute economic uncertainty.
- Acting Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Hu Wei hands over 8,862,990 meters of cloth as a grant from China: the grant to fulfill 70% of the school uniform requirement for 2023.
- Cardinal Ranjith hails Supreme Court verdict ordering compensation to Easter Sunday victims: says it reflects that any high-profile person including the President has no protection from the law if they have committed a crime: stresses it would be a good precedent to future leaders and officers.
- Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam requests Office for Reparation Chairperson Dhara Wijetillake to establish a “Victim Fund” to award sums ordered as compensation in a fair and equitable manner to the victim families as per the Supreme Court judgement re. the Easter Sunday attacks.
- Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardena says 30 short-distance train journeys will be suspended from 16th Jan’23 onwards: explains the move is aimed at reducing costs.
- Political alliance formed between arch-rivals Vinayagamurthy Muralidaran (Karuna Amman) and Sivnesathurai Chandrakanthan (Pillayan): new alliance to contest every Local Government Body in the North at the upcoming LG election.
- Sri Lanka Tourism says new Covid-19 protocols and procedures will be henceforth applicable to all inbound tourists who must possess vaccination cards: tourists who are not vaccinated to submit a PCR report obtained 72-hours prior to arrival: no exceptions.
- State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe says the authorities’ inability to get debt assurances from bilateral creditors has delayed the bailout by IMF: asserts such inability is taking a heavy toll on the people: on 3rd May 22, CB Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe indicated the economy will be stabilised within 3 months of that day.
- Minister of Power and Energy Kanchan Wijesekera says the Petroleum Development Authority will recommence work on exploration of petroleum resources in about 900 blocks identified around the country: authority prepares to issue 2-year oil and gas exploration licenses to suitable investors.
