- Well-known Economist Professor Howard Nicholas says he is “worried” about some conditions IMF has imposed on SL: asserts there’s no theoretical or empirical substance for the reform of SL’s Monetary Law Act & it’s based on a discarded theory: laments SL seems to be the “experiment ground” for IMF: also says preventing CB from providing liquidity is irrational & if SL is hit by a global shock in the future, “money printing” can’t be used as a buffer.
- Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake says the Govt is likely to lift the ban on the cultivation of Palm oil imposed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2021.
- Parliament approves the VAT (Amendment) Bill in anticipation of the IMF’s review for the 2nd tranche of around USD 330 mn out of the USD 2.9 bn bailout: the move expected to raise VAT from the existing 15% to 18%, and add a large number of new items into the VAT bracket, effective 1st Jan’24: 100 MPs vote for, and 55 MPs vote against.
- Spokesperson of the Defence Ministry Colonel Nalin Herath responds to reports that 3 SL ex-military personnel who fought for the Ukrainian Foreign Legion during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict have been killed-in-action: says legal action can be taken only if individuals are identified, & that otherwise, no authority has any jurisdiction over such people.
- Public sector employees including Development officers, Management service officers, Grama Niladharis, Samurdhi Officers, and Office Services personnel to be on a token strike today to pressure the Govt to implement the proposed Rs.10,000 salary increase from the next month itself.
- Tourism Ministry officials inform the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Economic and Physical Plans that plans have been made to bring wealthy tourists to SL in the coming year: Committee also directs its attention towards bringing 5 mn tourists to SL in 2024.
- Director of the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre says over 140 inmates have escaped from the Centre & 104 have been apprehended so far.
- SL Atomic Energy Authority gives the “green light” for nuclear power: Russia (which has already invested in nuclear power generation in Bangladesh) and India show a keen interest in putting up a plant in SL.
- SL Under-19 Cricket team suffers a shock defeat against UAE as UAE beats SL by 2 wickets with 10 balls to spare, in the Asia Cup Championship held in Dubai.
- Sports Minister Harin Fernando appoints a new Cricket Selection Committee consisting of Upul Tharanga (Chairman), Dilruwan Perera, Tharanga Paranavithana, Ajantha Mendis and Indika de Seram.
