- TNA MP M A Sumanthiran refutes allegations that some of the party’s MPs hold dual citizenship: asserts that the allegations are “absolute nonsense”.
- Chancellor of University of Ruhuna, Ven. Dr. Akkuretiye Nanda Thera says the Buddhist Nikayas must intervene to protect the rights of novice monks (Samanera) in temples: also says those below 12 years should not be ordained.
- SJB MP Dr Harsha de
Silva says Sri Lanka will not get IMF Board approval for a programme by end-2022 if the Government does not finalise agreements with creditors in the next 2 to 3 weeks: it’s already 7-1/2 months since seeking IMF assistance and not a single dollar has been received from IMF or any bilateral funding source, so far. - Only Rs.69 bn Treasury bills sold after offering Rs.80 bn: bulk raised from 3-month T-bills, aggravating the future “bunching” of settlements: yields – 3-month @ 33.05%, 6-month @ 32.53%: analysts say huge debt crisis looming.
- College of Medical Laboratory Science states there is a shortage of 120 essential drugs: also says more than 40 tests done at the Medical Research Institute are not done as a result: Health Ministry insists the shortages are not severe.
- CB Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe says those earning above Rs.100,000 are less affected by the tax hike, than those under the poverty-line who are more affected by inflation: adds “there’s an urgent need for the Government to collect more revenue somehow”.
- Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardene says political will and readiness to take unpopular decisions are essential to find proper solutions to the current economic crisis: significant crises emerge in several industries as a result of over Rs.200 bn government’s unpaid bills.
- President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis appearing for former CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal in a private plaint filed by NGO activist Keerthi Tennekoon in the Colombo Magistrate’s Court says the complainant has misled Court by failing to reveal that the same cause of action complained by him against Cabraal had been previously dismissed by the Court of Appeal.
- Secretary, Ministry of Public Security S. Hettiarachchi says the request to the UK Police would be “review the reports pertaining to the investigations already conducted in relation to the Easter Sunday terror attacks”, and not for a fresh investigation.
- An official of Sri Lanka Squash says Sri Lanka will not field a team at the next week’s Asian Squash Championship as the Ministry of Sports does not have funds.
