- State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says import restrictions on all items except vehicles, will be relaxed immediately: LKR expected to be under severe pressure soon with more imports, “hot-money” exits, and dwindling Forex reserves.
- Economic analyst Danusha Gihan Pathirana expresses shock that the CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe who is also the custodian of the EPF, has stated that using pension funds & excluding private bondholders from the DDR is in the best interests of the Fund: castigates the Governor’s claim that it’s a “unique solution” to the debt crisis “discovered” by local experts and that SL does not need local experts to implement the same procedures practiced elsewhere in the world.
- SLPP MP Gevindu Cumaratunga charges that the Finance Ministry’s continued postponement of answering a question related to the EPF in Parliament more than 2 months ago, raises serious concerns about state policy and transparency: alleges there is a significant difference between the interest rates paid in 2022 for the Provident Fund of Central Bank officers (29%) and that paid to ordinary EPF Members (9%).
- Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa alleges the Govt is planning to postpone National elections scheduled for next year: says it’s being done under the guise of amending electoral laws:also says an election can’t be expected from a President who ridicules the demand for elections by saying “there is no election to be postponed”.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe expresses deep concern over recent attacks in Israel and it’s implications for Sri Lankans and Israelis in both countries: directs the Foreign Ministry to facilitate the return of all Israelis from SL to Israel and urges Police to ensure the security of Israelis in SL.
- Business tycoon & MP Dhammika Perera, 55, announces his intention to contest the next Presidential Election: says he will do so if political parties confirm that they will support him to obtain 51% of the vote: Perera has served as the Chairman or Director of a large number of listed & unlisted companies: his charity (DP Education) provides support for students in the IT sector.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe says cotton cultivation needs to be promoted among small-scale backyard farmers in order to expand production levels and save foreign exchange for the country.
- SJB MP Nalin Bandara laments that an SJB MP who visited Geneva recently missed the opportunity to speak at the UNHRC Sessions: says his colleague Hector Appuhamy was given the 45th slot at the Sessions but there was no time for him to speak at the sessions by the end of the day.
- Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila says President Ranil Wickremasinghe owes an explanation to the public as to why a successor to the IGP C D Wickremaratne couldn’t be named before the end of the incumbent Police Chief’s 2nd 3-month extension.
- Top SL spinner Maheesh Theekshana is likely to play in the 2nd World Cup Cricket match against Pakistan today: Assistant Coach Naveed Nawaz says Theekshana wasn’t risked in the 1st game against South Africa as per medical advice.
