- CB weekly data shows that “hot-money” forex investments in Govt Treasuries is continuing it’s rapid exodus in the face of the depreciating currency: foreign investment in Govt Treasuries reduces by over Rs.10.5 bn (USD 36.8 mn) during the week: currency depreciating pressure expected to escalate next week.
- UNICEF says 85% of Grade 3 children in SL are not achieving minimum proficiency in literacy & numeracy: notes that the country ranks the lowest in South Asia in education spending.
- Committee on Public Finance instructs Finance Ministry officials to declare the selling price of wheat flour per kg as Rs.198 in order to prevent 2 major companies from making excessive profits and to protect the consumers.
- President of the Ceylon Teachers Union Priyantha Fernando says over 5,000
teachers have left the country since Dec’22: also states the teachers who are leaving are mainly those who are teaching English, Science, Mathematics, Technology and IT: warns that if the situation is not arrested soon, it could lead to the education sector collapsing in the immediate future. - Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure
Development Jeevan Thondaman predicts that the available water reserves would be enough for only the next 2 months: also says the distribution of pure pipe-borne drinking water to consumers has been impacted and only 10% of what was available prior to the sparking of the El Nino situation in the country, is available now. - State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says the import tax of Rs.75 on 1kg of maize has been reduced to Rs.25: also says the aim is to reduce the price of animal feed using maize.
- Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Economic and Physical Planning Mahindananda Aluthgamage says it is necessary to promptly amend the Inland Revenue ActIn in order to fortify SL’s fiscal stability and streamline revenue collection by enhancing the state tax mechanism, so that the IMF targets on tax could be achieved: also laments about the underperformance and corruption in the revenue collecting institutions.
- The parents of the self-styled prophet, Pastor Jerome Fernando apologize for the controversial remarks made by their son:
call on Ven Omaple Sobhitha Thera to do so: based on Pastor Jerome’s comments, the CID had initiated an investigation on the directives of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court had issued an overseas travel ban on the Pastor, who had left the island on May 14. - Consultant Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Ruhul Haq, who has been embroiled in controversy for defying a suspension imposed by the Sri Lanka Medical Council, sent on compulsory leave.
- Schools Rugby League two top teams St. Peter’s College (the only team to remain unbeaten so far), and defending champions Isipathana College battle it out for the League title today at the St. Peter’s ground in Bambalapitiya
Sri Lanka Original Narrative Summary: 19/08
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