- President Ranil Wickremesinghe warns against altering Sri Lanka’s IMF agreement, stating that the terms are non-negotiable: emphasises the importance of the agreement, which ensures about US$700 million every six months from major financial institutions, crucial for stabilising the economy: cautions that changes could lead to halted IMF funding and a lengthy renegotiation process, risking economic instability.
- SJB Presidential Candidate and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says for the first time in the 76 years of democratic history, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) remains as an opposition party that added value to the school system in Sri Lanka through ‘Sakwala’ and ‘Husma’ initiatives, amounting close to Rs. 1 billion: asserts he has the best, strongest and smartest team to work with.
- Anura Kumara Dissanayake, presidential candidate for the National People’s Power (NPP), launches his manifesto titled “A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life” in Colombo: The event, attended by party members and dignitaries, emphasises the manifesto as a binding social contract: NPP MP (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya stresses the party’s commitment to adhering to the manifesto’s values and policies.
- The Election Commission reports nearly 1,000 complaints regarding the upcoming presidential election as of 26 August: Of the 925 complaints received since 31 July, 901 involve alleged election law violations, one concerns violence, and 23 are miscellaneous: The surge in complaints has alarmed the Commission, while election monitoring bodies, including PAFFREL, have recorded about 250 issues, reflecting growing concerns over election fairness and transparency ahead of the 21 September vote.
- The Ministry of Education announces the third term for government and recognised schools begins today (26), following the end of the second term on August 16: This term will run until November 22 and is crucial for students preparing for year-end exams: Teachers are urged to complete the curriculum and focus on revision, with schools balancing academic and extracurricular activities: The Ministry stresses adherence to the academic calendar and maintaining standards.
- Sri Lanka Customs, led by Director General Sarath Nonis, is set to surpass Rs 1 trillion in revenue shortly: At the Spices and Allied Products Producers and Traders Association AGM, Nonis highlighted the importance of export earnings for economic recovery and urged exporters to focus on value-added goods: Customs aims for Rs 1.5 trillion in revenue this year and is enhancing trade efficiency and market penetration, particularly in the European spice market.
- Australia’s United Petroleum plans to invest US$ 20-30 million in Sri Lanka to establish a food manufacturing plant for its ‘Pie Face’ brand, producing pies and convenience foods: Set to begin in early 2025, the facility will be located in a Board of Investment zone and aims to export 80% of production to key markets: Additionally, UPL will invest in 50 new fuel stations and convenience centres across Sri Lanka.
- The Postal Department will receive a crucial shipment of registered postal ballot papers today (26) for the 2024 Presidential Election: Distribution of polling cards starts on 3 September, with 8 September set aside for broader distribution: All postal staff leave is suspended until the election’s end to ensure smooth operations: Postal voting will occur on 4, 5, and 6 September, with additional days on 11 and 12 September. Out of 736,589 postal vote applications, 712,321 are eligible.
- Renowned Sri Lankan filmmaker Sugathapala Senarath Yapa passes away at 89: Celebrated for his visionary contributions to Sinhala cinema, Yapa directed iconic films such as “Hanthane Kathawa,” “Pembara Madhu,” and “Induta Mal Mitak”: His works are acclaimed for their profound social themes and artistic storytelling, significantly impacting the nation’s cinematic heritage.
- Sri Lanka Cricket captain Dhananjaya de Silva attributes the first Test loss to England at Old Trafford to mistakes in the first innings, acknowledging missed opportunities and the need for better execution: Despite individual efforts, including Kamindu Mendis’ century, the team faltered under England’s disciplined bowling: Dinesh Chandimal praises Kamindu and hints this could be his final England tour after battling a recurring thumb injury.
