- The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the import of up to 30,000 metric tons of non-iodized salt by the State Trading Corporation to address the ongoing salt shortage in the market. Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa confirmed that the approval was given to import the stocks before January 31, 2025.
- Former MP Manoj Sirisena says he made a verbal and written clarification from the President’s Fund yesterday, about the recent statement made in Parliament by Minister Nalinda Jayatissa mentioning his name related to the misuse of funds from the President’s Fund. Issuing a statement, the former MP said that on March 9, 2009, while participating in an event held in Akuressa he was seriously injured in a suicide bomb.
- A Quo Warranto application has been filed against Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Professor Upali Pannilage, seeking his disqualification as an MP. The application was filed by public interest litigant Oshala Herath at the Court of Appeal, stating that Prof. Upali Pannilage had been appointed as a Member of Parliament under the National People’s Power (NPP) National List and was appointed a Cabinet Minister while being an officer in a public corporation.
- Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to provide Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) with a loan facility of US$ 150 million, which is utilised in several essential projects in CEB’s long-term transmission plan. Accordingly, the ADB and the CEB signed an agreement for ADB to provide a loan of US$ 150 million to CEB. After rigorous due diligence by ADB on technical, economic and social merits of CEB’s upcoming investment proposals, ADB approved the loan package in November 2024, a CEB media release revealed.
- Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe says that criticism pertaining to the country’s economy should be made within the framework of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement. Issuing a special statement, he emphasized that it is necessary to move forward and protect the IMF agreement and that neither the government nor the opposition has the ability to exit that agreement.
- The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to increase the daily allocation for providing breakfast to children in Early Childhood Development Centers and preschools with a high percentage of underweight children, Cabinet Spokesman Mass Media Minister Dr.Nalinda Jayatissa said.
- Police officers have reported that many traffic speed measuring devices used to detect those who drive at excessive speeds are currently detective. This has made it difficult to apprehend drivers who break speed limits. A senior Police officer mentioned that there are only one or two functional speed measuring devices available per district.
- The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the extension of the compulsory age limit of retirement for government medical officers up to 63 years, with amendments to be made in line with the Pensions Act. This decision allows government doctors who were set to retire by December 31, 2024, to continue serving until the age of 63.
- Commemorating the 25th year since the bomb attack that targeted her in December 1999, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga donated essential medicines to the Apeksha Cancer Hospital in Maharagama. In a statement, the former President said she was accompanied by the family members of her Security official who had died in the bomb blast.
- Cabinet approval has been granted for the renovation of the Sugathadasa National Sports Complex according to international standards. The Sugathadasa National Sports Complex is an internationally recognized sports complex that provides class 1 sports facilities.
