- Govt sources say significant amendments are to be made to laws of major State banks – Bank of Ceylon, People’s Bank, National Savings Bank, and State Mortgage Bank within the 1st quarter of 2024: plans to divest 20% of State stakes in BOC & PB to “selected depositors & employees”: also say Central Bank approval is currently being sought “to finalise these procedures”.
- Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith admits he asked former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa not to appoint Mohamed Ali Sabry as the Minister of Justice: also says he did so after a Buddhist monk informed him about the President’s move to do so.
- Ministry of Public Security says 2,166 persons have been arrested and 1.3 kgs of heroin, 7 kgs of cannabis, & 1,075 narcotic pills have been siezed during a 24-hour special operation.
- Cabinet grants approval to import 15,000 MT of Maize through the State Trading Corporation to meet the requirements for poultry feed production: also approves the import of 50,000 MT of GR11 rice variety which is similar to ‘Keeri Samba’ through the private sector.
- Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon says 8 vehicles valued at Rs.68 mn belonging to drug dealers have been taken into custody by the Illegal Properties or Assets Investigation Division of the Police.
- Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara says a reduction in electricity tariffs will be made during the next price revision in Jan’24 as maximum hydro-power generation is being done currently.
- Colombo Stock Exchange and Securities & Exchange Commission revise the Corporate Governance rules for listed entities after 16 years: the revised rules to be applicable to companies listed on the main board, diri savi board and catalyst board, from 1st Oct’23 onwards, subject to certain transitional provisions.
- Ambassador of Russia in SL Levan S. Dzhagaryan says an estimated 200,000 Russian tourists are likely to visit Sri Lanka in 2024 and air connectivity too would be further strengthened.
- Prisons Commissioner Gamini B Dissanayake says the Dept had commenced installing CCTV cameras in buses that transport “special category inmates”: asserts this would help enhance security and enable the authorities to prevent “contraband” entering prisons.
- SL fast bowler Nuwan Thushara bought by “Mumbai Indians” for INR 48mn at the IPL-2024 auction in Dubai: more fancied all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga bought by “Sunrisers Hyderabad” for only INR 15mn: Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc tops the list after being bought by “Kolkata Knight Riders” for INR 247mn.
