- President Ranil Wickremasinghe grants a pardon to former LTTEer Selliah Navaratnam, 69 years, who was sentenced to 200 years in prison after being found guilty over the 1996 Central Bank bombing that killed 91 people: another former LTTEer S. Sanmugarajah, who was serving a life sentence, also granted a Presidential pardon: both released from prison on 18th July 23.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe engages in bilateral talks with Indian PM Narendra Modi: asserts SL is steadfastly pursuing economic reforms which are showing positive results in stabilizing the country: says the measures taken have led to a “resurgence of confidence” both within the nation & from external observers in the progress of Sri Lanka: also says the ferry services between Talaimannar-Rameswaram & Nagapattinam-Kankesanthurai will add more impetus to sea travel between India & SL.
- The SJB submits No-Confidence Motion against Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella to the Speaker.
- Dept of Census and Statistics says Inflation (as per the NCPI) has recorded 10.8% in June 2023 following the inflation of 58.9% in June 2022: accordingly, a massive increase in cost of living of 69.7% has been officially recorded since June 2021.
- Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe asserts Sri Lanka could exit bankruptcy by September 2023: says with the implementation of the Anti-Corruption Act, Sri Lanka will be transformed into a corruption-free country: further asserts that receiving the GSP+ tax relief for another 4 years is a big victory, and that international confidence has been confirmed about the economic stability of the country: claims “we are on the right track”.
- CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe says it is essential for Sri Lanka to ensure it goes ahead with the current reform efforts, as otherwise, it runs the risk of having to face another Domestic Debt Optimisation exercise: asserts that the current DDO is strong and consistent with the expectations.
- State Minister of Urban Development and Housing Arundika Fernando says final notice has been given to investors related to the resumption of projects being carried out on lands owned by the Govt in Colombo: warns that if investors do not take steps to complete the projects, the lands will be taken over by the Govt and given to new investors.
- Education Minister Susil Premajayanth says 255 members of academic staff and 153 non-academic staff of the state universities have vacated their posts during the last one and a half years without tendering their resignations officially: also says 83 academic staff members and 277 non-academic staff members have officially resigned from all 17 universities during the same period.
- The report of the Parliament Select Committee to Make Suitable Recommendations for the Expansion of Higher Education Opportunities in SL recommends the replacement of the University Grants Commission and the Vocational Training Authority by an independent National Higher Education Commission.
- Police use water cannons to disperse student Buddhist monks protesting near Town Hall.
