- President Ranil Wickremesinghe calls on Emperor Naruhito at Imperial Palace in Tokyo: also holds bilateral discussion with Japanese PM Fumio Kishida.
- Foreign funded Advocata Institute says electricity tariff increase is necessary because prices charged to consumers are below cost, leading to large deficits: claims the energy subsidy is financed through “money printing” which contributes to the on-going balance of payments crisis.
- Cardinal Ranjith demands gloomy Christmas: wants tourism leaders to provide for the poor instead of spending money to celebrate Christmas: criticises the illumination of the City of Colombo.
- Former Foreign Minister Professor G L Peiris questions legality of the High Security Zones declared in terms of the “outdated” Official Secrets Act: controversial gazette expected to be rescinded shortly.
- National Freedom Front Leader and former Minister Wimal Weerawansa says the economic crisis is persisting because of the debt default announcement made by CB Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe as soon as he assumed office.
- Minister Mahinda Amaraweera says Wildlife Department spends Rs.2.8 bn annually to provide free fire-crackers to repel wild elephants to safeguard villages in vulnerable areas: government incurs an additional interest charge of Rs.398.4 bn in 5 months up to August ’22, after the Central Bank increased its policy interest rates by a massive 7%.
- Chairman, Elections Commission says an official announcement will be made early next year on the date of the Local Government Election: also says the youth voters’ registry is being updated now.
- Residents blame drug addicts for the fire that gutted at least 60 houses in suburban area of Kajeemawatte where there are about 300 wooden houses.
- Former President Maithripala Sirisena says he has been informed by certain police officers that girls from very respectable families have become prostitutes.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Indian PM Narendra Modi discuss Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring, in Tokyo, at a meeting that lasted around 10 minutes: President says Sri Lanka won’t do anything that will jeopardize India’s security.
Sri Lanka Original Narrative Summary: 29/09
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