- “Cut-off” interest rates on 3-month & 6-month T-Bills rise sharply by 25 & 115 bps respectively: rates for 12-month Bills dip marginally on a low subscription: analysts expect further increases in rates on the back of huge volumes of issues expected in the next 12 months, the CB’s inability to subscribe for T-Bills under the new CBSL Act, & the flight of foreign investment in T-Bills due the ratings downgrade of Local Debt to “Restricted Default” status.
- Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera says his Ministry has warned of a severe drought situation in the 2024 Yala season & that farmers should therefore be prepared for such: requests farming community to commence the cultivation of paddy by using rainwater.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe says SL’s Anti-Corruption Commission is currently recruiting staff with formal training: asserts another year will be required to realize the outcomes of the anti-corruption law, making the timeline for achievement approximately 2 years.
- Vavuniya Magistrate’s Court rejects request by Police for a restraining order preventing the 36-year death commemoration of LTTE cadre ‘Thileepan’, who “fasted unto death”.
- Federation of Information Technology Chairman Indika de Soysa projects a contribution of USD 15.0 bn to SL’s GDP through the digital economy, by 2030: the digital economy currently contributes USD 3.7 bn to GDP.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe meets several leaders and VIPs on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings and holds “cordial & fruitful discussions”: among them, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, WB President Ajay Banga, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, USAID Administrator Samantha Power, META President Sir Nick Clegg, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, IMF MD Kristalina Georgieva, Iranian President Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, and Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
- State Minister of Investment Promotion Dilum Amunugama says the Govt is planning on re-branding “Colombo Port City” as “Colombo Financial City”: launch of the new name to be next week with former UK PM David Cameron leading the effort: the Port City spans 269 hectares of reclaimed land from the sea & legislation for the Port City Commission was passed on 20th May 2021.
- Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry deposits the Instrument of Accession to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.at the UN premises: accordingly, Sri Lanka is now the 69th state party to the Treaty.
- Young 15-member Cricket squad announced for the 2023 Asian Games: Sahan Arachchige set to lead: among those with international caps, are Ashen Bandara, Nuwanidu Fernando & Nuwan Thushara: majority of the others have appeared in the LPL.
- Cricket sources confirm that there will be no change to the captaincy before the World Cup and Dasun Shanaka will captain the Sri Lanka squad in the ICC World Cup 2023.
