- Sri Lanka thrash England by 8 wickets in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Group level match: England – 156 all out (33.2): Lahiru Kumara – 35/3: Sri Lanka – 160/2 (25.4): Pathum Nissanka – 77, Sadeera Samarawickrama – 65: SL climbs to the 5th position in the Points table after all teams have completed 5 matches each.
- Govt Medical Officers Assn announces a series of trade union action in protest of the Govt’s failure to take steps to retain doctors who are going abroad: also decides to withdraw from mobile ambulance services for VIP health security operations from Nov 1 until further notice.
- Newly-appointed Environment Minister Keheliya Rambukwella says a new Environmental Act that better suits the needs of the country should be introduced, replacing the current National Environment Act.
- Education Minister Dr Sushil Premajayanth apologises to teachers and principals over the recent incident in Pelawatte, where a group of protesting teachers were dispersed by using water cannons & tear gas.
- Colombo Stock Exchange launches Regulated Short Selling through Stock Borrowing & Lending with effect from 6th November’23: the market has been on a “bear-run” over the past few months, and steadily losing value.
- SLPP MP & strong President-backer Nimal Lansa challenges SLPP MPs Namal Rajapaksa & Sagara Kariyawasam to vote against the budget & defeat the Govt and go for a Parliamentary election.
- US Ambassador Julie Chung who is at the centre of many controversies, proclaims that “equal & equitable treatment for all creditors of SL is essential in the debt restructuring process”: advises CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe that “transparency from every party involved is crucial”: analysts point out that US-influenced IMF, ADB & WB are however not agreeing to any restructure of their loans by referring to themselves as “senior creditors”.
- Principal scientist of the National Aquatic Resources Research & Development Agency K Arulananthan says NARA is awaiting to carry out “collaborative research with the Chinese vessel Shi Yang 6 subject to approval by the Foreign Ministry”: also says it has agreed for an “air-sea interaction survey with a focus on the water column of the Indian Ocean but not on the sea bottom given security sensitivity involved”.
- Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera announces an increase in the fine for cattle theft to Rs.1mn with a 1-year Rigorous Imprisonment: laments that a rare cow in the Anuradhapura region, that was known for its high milk yield of about 26 litres per day was recently stolen & slaughtered.
- SL’s Para Athletes have so far clinched 6 medals ( 2 Gold, 2 Silver & 2 Bronze) at the Asian Paralympic Games currently underway in China: SL presently placed at the 15th position in the Medal standings.
