- Dept of Excise announces increases of all Excise Duty rates: as a result, prices of all varieties of hard liquor to increase by around Rs.300 per bottle: beer to increase by around Rs.50: each cigarette to increase by Rs.25.
- Govt’s Domestic Debt Restructuring proposal passed in Parliament with a majority of 60 votes: 122 MPs vote in favour and 62 against: SJB MPs Rajitha Senaratne, Mayantha Dissanayake, Rohini Kaviratne & Mano Ganesan among absentees from the Opposition: from the SLPP ranks, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Namal Rajapaksa & Chamal Rajapaksa, absent: SLFP stays neutral.
- State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says the Domestic Debt Restructuring will not pose any risks to provident funds or bank deposits: analysts however point out that the Monetary Board has already cut 20% off the EPF Member balances in 2022 by crediting only 9% when the actual earnings were 29%: accordingly, based on the EPF Member balances of Rs.3,068 bn as at end-Dec’21, analysts state that the EPF Members have been deprived of a staggering Rs.614 bn in earnings for the year 2022.
- Govt condemns the burning of the Holy Quran outside a mosque in Sweden amidst Eid celebrations.
- Parliament appoints a 12-Member Parliamentary Select Committee under Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles to submit recommendations on the eradication of the drug menace within the country.
- According to CEB Chairman Nalinda Illangakoon the CEB which is being restructured to be more cost-effective, may incur around Rs.37 bn in losses within the coming 6 months with the introduction of the new tariff revision last week: say the effect of the tariff reduction proposed by the CEB for the next 6 months was around Rs.10 bn, but the new tariff reduction approved by the PUCSL will cost Rs.47 bn.
- Industrial Development Board Chairman Dr. Saranga Alahapperuma says an exemption of import tax on raw and intermediary material is being seriously considered by the Ministry of Industries, and asserts a positive response in this regard can be expected before the end of this year.
- Geological Survey and Mines Bureau reports a magnitude 5.8 earthquake deep below the seas off South-East of Sri Lanka, approximately 1,260 kms away from Colombo: Bureau confirms there has been no adverse effects from the tremor.
- A Russian cargo plane takes Tusker elephant “Muthu Raja” which was donated by Thailand to Sri Lanka, back to Thailand: “Muthu Raja” is to receive treatment from Thai veterinary surgeons in Thailand.
- Fast bowler Lahiru Kumara, who suffered a side strain during the match against Netherlands, to miss the remainder of the ICC tournament: to be replaced by Sahan Arachchige: Wanindu Hasaranga receives official reprimand and penalty of 50% match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the match against Netherlands.
