- The Road Development Authority (RDA) will assess the damage to roads and bridges, with a special team appointed for this task: Director General S.M.P. Suriyabandara stated that immediate action would be taken to repair the affected infrastructure, ensuring timely restoration of damaged roads and bridges to maintain safety and functionality.
- Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa emphasised the need for unity across all differences to ensure justice for Palestinians: Speaking at the UN Day for Solidarity with the Palestinian People conference, he called for action, not just rhetoric, in support of Palestinian rights: Premadasa condemned state terrorism, urged global leaders to take decisive action, and advocated for peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine.
- Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed support for the government’s economic programme in partnership with the IMF to strengthen Sri Lanka’s economy: Speaking at the opening of a new five-star hotel in Colombo, he praised the initiative: The event was attended by figures including Minister Vijitha Herath and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, and marked a significant investment by a prominent gem businessman.
- Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath invited nine newly appointed Ambassadors and a High Commissioner to attend Sri Lanka’s Independence Day celebrations: The diplomats, who recently presented credentials to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, expressed interest in strengthening diplomatic ties and enhancing economic and trade relations with Sri Lanka: The Minister agreed to review potential new agreements to support these initiatives.
- The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development announced a reduction in the Special Commodity Levy on imported big onions from Rs. 30 to Rs. 10 per kilo, effective until December 31, 2024: However, the levy on imported potatoes will remain unchanged at Rs. 60 per kilo: These changes were initially introduced in a gazette notification on October 2, 2024.
- Senior Economic Advisor Duminda Hulangamuwa stated that the new government is encouraging the private sector to lead economic development while retaining control over strategic public sectors: Discussing state-owned enterprise (SOE) restructuring, he emphasised a careful approach, analysing which SOEs burden the treasury: He also mentioned ongoing efforts to restructure SriLankan Airlines’ finances, ensuring the country’s priorities come first.
- The Vehicle Importers’ Association of Sri Lanka is confident that vehicle imports will resume in February 2025: During a press briefing, the association announced upcoming discussions with the President to ensure a smooth process: The President and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka have promised support, while the IMF has also granted approval for the resumption of imports.
- Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasised that combating the drug problem requires inspiring positive change in children and youth, not just relying on laws: Speaking at the 2024 All-Ceylon Art and Animation Video Competition, she highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive program to address drug addiction and rehabilitation, alongside strong law enforcement efforts to combat drug trafficking.
- The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) will submit a revised electricity tariff proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) on December 6th: CEB spokesperson Eng. A.D.K. Parakramasinghe confirmed the report is nearly complete: Previously, the CEB proposed a 6-11% tariff reduction for the last quarter of 2024, but the PUCSL rejected it, requesting a revision for the first half of 2025.
- Sri Lanka dropped to 5th place in the WTC 2023-25 standings after a heavy 233-run defeat to South Africa in the first Test, with a points percentage of 50%: South Africa moved to 2nd place, with Marco Jansen’s match-winning figures of 11/86 earning him Player of the Match: India remains top, while South Africa trails with 59.26%.
