- Health sector sources say shortage of medical specialists, which was around 400 in the first few months of this year, has now increased to approximately 800: shortage due to several factors including medical specialists leaving the country and joining the private sector & universities.
- Supreme Court in a 4-1 majority ruling, determines that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, former Finance Ministers Mahinda Rajapaksa & Basil Rajapaksa, former CB Governors Ajith Nivard Cabraal & Professor W D Lakshman, former Secretary to the Ministry of Finance S R Attygalle, former Secretary to the President Dr P B Jayasundara & the Monetary Board Members had violated public trust and breached Article 12 (1) of the Constitution, in their administration of the economy, leading to the economic crisis in the country: particularly faults the leadership for the reduction of taxes in 2019 and not seeking IMF assistance earlier.
- SJB MP Rajitha Senaratne says the 2024 Budget is a “UNP budget”: also says what is important is the proper implementation of the budget proposals.
- Supreme Court dismisses 2 contempt cases against Secretary to the Treasury Mahinda Siriwardana filed by SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara & NPP MP Vijitha Herath, alleging non-compliance with an SC order related to Local Govt elections.
- Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe says those who are not fit to be MPs can be removed once the proposed Parliament Standards Bill is enacted: promises to present the Bill to Parliament after PM Dinesh Gunawardene speaks to party leaders on this.
- US-funded think-tank Verité Research’s Executive Director Dr Nishan de Mel describes the Budget 2024 as another “fairytale” with promises of revenue that lack grounding in reality: urges private sector to take the lead in professionalising tax compliance, budgeting and planning processes.
- Geological Survey and Mines Bureau says a Magnitude 6.1 earthquake had occurred 800km southeast of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean at a depth of 10km: confirms there is no danger to SL.
- Chairman of SL Cricket Selection Committee Pramodya Wickramasinghe points fingers at certain individuals vying for power in the SL Cricket Board, brokers involved in match-fixing & those attempting to secure spots in the National team, as being the reasons for the challenges faced by SL Cricket: asserts there is a multi-faceted conspiracy operating at various levels for a long time.
- Court of Appeal President Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne, who was at the centre of the controversy surrounding the issuing of an interim order against Sri Lanka Cricket’s Interim Committee appointed by the Sports Minister, recuses himself from hearing the case.
- COPE Chairman Ranjith Bandara rebukes SL Cricket for following weak processes in performing its activities which have led to the current crisis in Cricket.
