- SL High Commission in Canada objects to the erection of a monument to commemorate “Genocide of Tamil civilians in SL during the War”: ground-breaking for the construction in the municipal area of Brampton in the greater Toronto area took place recently.
- Parliament passes the motion to remove the Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission Janaka Ratnayake with 123 voting for and 77 against.
- Indian HC in SL says media reports suggesting the Indian Govt has demanded compensation damages from Sri Lanka for assistance provided during the fire incidents onboard MT New Diamond & MV X-Press Pearl in September 2020 & May-June 2021 are completely false.
- Attorney General informs Supreme Court that the CID has already begun investigations into Pastor Jerome Fernando’s demeaning remarks on other religions, when the FR petition filed by Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera & several others was taken up before Courts.
- Tourist Hotels Association President M. Shanthikumar says the hotel sector has not been able to get higher revenues despite the improvement in international visitors as the rates are down because everyone is undercutting: laments a room at a star class hotel can be got for about Rs.25,000 per night, and therefore the smaller hotels are pushed to cut rates to get bookings.
- Heavily indebted Sri Lankan Airlines says it will engage with holders of USD 175 million (Rs 53.3 bn), 7% fixed coupon int’l bonds on which it did not pay interest in December 2022.
- SJB economic guru and MP Harsha de Silva says they can’t allow the Govt to jeopardize the interests of EPF members in its debt re-structuring exercise: however, Silva was at the forefront of seeking an IMF programme which was obviously going to lead to a local debt restructuring.
- Lanka Sathosa reduces prices of 6 items; milk powder (400g) reduced by Rs.50 to Rs.1030; dried Chilli by Rs.45 to Rs.1350 per kg; Red lentils by Rs.10 to Rs.325; Soya Meat by Rs.10 to Rs.660; big onions by Rs.6 to Rs.129; Sugar by Rs.4 to Rs.239.
- Acting Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says the Govt has no intention to bring down liquor prices in the near future: admits that following tax increases, the excise revenue has come down by 7.4% which has resulted in a drop in the
projected excise revenue by 30%. - SL Cricket’s pace-spin combination of Matheesha Pathirana and Maheesh Theekshana share 4 wickets between them as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) defeat Gujarat Titans by 15 runs in the IPL Qualifier-1 match played at the M A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai: mystery spinner Theekshana captures 2 for 28 while slinger Pathirana picks up 2 for 37 as Gujarat were bowled out for 157, for the first time in IPL history.
