- Treasury recommends that the system to allow SL migrant workers to import electric vehicles on concessionary terms be scrapped as it is not viable: says the Forex remittances gained through the scheme were not adequate and taxes imposed on the imports were insufficient.
- Peradeniya University Economics Professor Wasantha Athukorale says the value of pawned Gold has shot up from Rs.250bn to Rs.650bn by the middle of 2023: also says that indicates people are using their savings to meet their daily consumption expenditure.
- Finance Ministry says a pledge loan scheme under a concessional interest rate for small and medium scale paddy millers has been implemented from 1st September for paddy purchasing in 2023 Yala Season: also says the move will help to maintain a reasonable price to farmers and strengthen the SME
paddy millers. - National Building Research Organisation issues landslide warnings for the districts of Kegalle, Kalutara, Ratnapura and Galle.
- State Ministers complain to President Ranil Wickremesinghe that they have no functions to discharge due to their Ministerial colleagues usurping them: also complain that they have not been issued with good vehicles or other facilities they are entitled to.
- Exporters to be required to pay VAT upfront and claim their respective taxed funds after proceeds are brought back and declared in the country, according to a proposed Bill: the new law will replace the existing Simplified Value Added Tax (S-VAT) scheme whereby the state bears the tax cost temporarily until the proceeds are declared voluntarily by the exporter: the new Bill is a part of the IMF programme which the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has strongly supported.
- Sources close to MP Nimal Lanza says dissident SLPP MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa is set to head a new Alliance initiated by MP Lanza: the proposal to hand over all responsibilities to MP Yapa including the power of carry out discussions with various parties was made by MP Lanza and Minister Susil Premajayanth.
- Former President Maithripala Sirisena says there could be a “Maithri era” once again, and that the SLPP is no match for the SLFP: Sirisena has already declared himself a Candidate at the next Presidential election which is due in less than an year.
- Central Bank’s Weekly Indicators show that credit to Govt from the banking system had increased by an alarming Rs. 288bn in July’23: analysts express grave concern about this development in the light of the unilateral debt default and huge increase in tax rates.
- Schools Rugby League Champions St. Peter’s College beat St. Joseph’s College by 16-11 in the 2nd semi-final of the Schools Rugby President’s Trophy Knock-out Tournament: accordingly, St. Peter’s College will meet Isipathana College in the final.
