- Leader of Mawbima Janata Party Dilith Jayaweera says the main parties UNP, SJB, NPP & SLPP have come together: asserts that is why every bill is passed in Parliament at any time with price & tax increases: points out “red parades” do not come to the Galle Face now: challenges NPP & JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake for a live TV debate.
- Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Leader & MP Udaya Gammanpila asserts the Presidential election will be held any day between 18 Sept and 18 Oct’24.
- Urban Development & Housing Ministry announces plans to raise Rs.21bn by “leasing” state lands over a period of 3 years, commencing 2024: such lands are to be leased for long term projects undertaken jointly by the public & private sectors.
- National Medicines Regulatory Authority says legal action will be taken against private health institutions, despite their status, where medicines and other medical items are sold at high prices, thereby violating the Govt’s regulations regarding the Maximum Retail Prices.
- Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera meets French Ambassador to Colombo Jean-Francois Pactet: tweets that French Power Utility, “Electricity De France” has made a proposal to SL on nuclear energy: also says he discussed “possible partnerships” in the future.
- Public Utilities Commission says there is no truth to reports in the media that the CEB has submitted a report on a proposed electricity tariff reduction.
- Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa files a Fundamental Rights petition before the Supreme Court requesting an order that the current power tariffs be reduced: PUCSL, CEB, Minister of Power & Energy, Secretary of Ministry of Power & Energy and Attorney General, named as respondents: asserts the CEB has made Rs.52bn by selling electricity at exorbitant prices.
- Tourist Hotels Assn President M Shanthikumar hails the strong rebound in tourism in 2023: thanks Tourism Minister Harin Fernando and the SL Tourism Board for the effort: in 2023, earnings from tourism amounted to USD 2bn with 1.48 mn arrivals, the highest since 2019: analysts point out that tourism was affected in 2019 by the Easter attack, 2020 & 2021 by Covid, and 2022 by the “Aragalaya”.
- International Chess Master Susal de Silva from Nalanda College, wins the Under-18 Open event at the Asian Youth Chess Championships 2023 held in UAE: in the Under-12 Girls’ category, Oshini Devindya Gunawardhana of Wycherley International School secures the 1st runner-up position.
- SL wins the 2nd Cricket ODI against Zimbabwe by 2 wickets: Zimbabwe – 208 all out (44.4 overs): Mahesh Theekshana – 31/4: SL – 211/8 (49 overs): Janith Liyanage – 95.
