- President Ranil Wickremesinghe has stated that while others only talk about corruption, he has introduced numerous legislations to prevent it. Addressing a meeting with the heads of media organisations today, he said that the Proceeds of Crime Act will also be presented to the Cabinet next week. Wickremasinghe further emphasised that he has never protected anyone accused of corruption, according to the President’s Media Division.
- A group of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) members led by MP Dayasiri Jayasekara has signed an agreement with SJB presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa to support him in the upcoming Presidential Election. SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa signed the relevant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
- The All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) led by former minister Rishad Bathiudeen has decided to announce the candidate it will support in the upcoming presidential election on August 14. The leader of the ACMC, MP Rishad Bathiudeen, stated that this decision was taken during the party’s Supreme Council meeting last night.
- A Gazette notification has been issued bringing the Ministry of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms under the purview of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. This move comes following the recent resignation of Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe from his ministerial portfolios to contest the upcoming Presidential election.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced that vehicle imports will be gradually allowed from next year. The decision, according to the President, aims to bolster government revenue through customs duties.
- The recent resolutions passed at the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Matara District Committee, including support for President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming election, have been conveyed to the SLPP. Taking to ‘X’, Minister and SLPP MP Kanchana Wijesekera said the SLPP Matara District Committee’s decisions have been communicated to the Party Leaders.
- The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal by Minister of Sports Harin Fernando on the establishment of futsal indoor stadiums on a commercial scale. As the first move, approval has been granted to construct 02 artificial tracks at Torrington and Sugathadasa sports complex in Colombo under a grant provided by the Government of Pakistan.
- Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana said in Parliament that the country cannot move forward if the agreement reached with the IMF is changed even by a letter or a cent. The Minister said this during the adjournment debate in the Parliament yesterday on the Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report – 2024.
- The Anunayake of the Malwatte Chapter Ven.Dimbulkumbure Wimaladhamma Thera said that 18 including people who are not known to anyone in the country, have made the ballot paper unnecessarily long by depositing money for the Presidential Election.
- Sri Lanka recorded a 110-run win in the final ODI of the three-match series against India on Wednesday (Aug 7) and won the series 2-0. This is Sri Lanka’s first ODI series win against India in over two decades. They had last won an ODI series against India in back in 1997 – an year after winning their maiden ODI World Cup.
