- German Ambassador Holger Seubert meets envoys from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, and USA to discuss “restructuring Sri Lanka’s debt”: the Sri Lankan Government has failed to make payments to its development partners, including India, China and Japan.
- President’s Chief of Staff and Senior National Security Advisor Sagala Ratnayake meets IMF team including incoming IMF Resident Representative for Sri Lanka, Ms. Sarwat Jahan: discusses views on “debt restructuring” and prior-action measures: discussion of Sri Lanka’s creditors scheduled for 3rd November.
- Former Chamber of Construction Industry President Ranjith Gunatilleke says Sri Lanka faces an “unemployment crisis” with increasing layoffs being widely reported: warns most construction projects have stopped and only 10-15% of projects are still active.
- Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Professor Janitha Liyanage says Russia’s AzurAir will commence flights to Sri Lanka from 2nd November.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe instructs UNP “top brass” to bring political activists of all major parties into the UNP fold: political activists in the main-stream and rural level of SLPP, SJB, JVP, NFF, TNA and SLMC to be targeted.
- Airports Authority Chairman G A Chandrasiri says the BIA Terminal 2 project contract with Japan’s Taisei Corporation would be reviewed to determine whether it should be terminated, if Sri Lanka cannot secure the required funding from JICA: presently, compensation of around Rs.2 bn per month is payable to the contractor due to the project suspension.
- Cycling race called “Race the Pearl” covering 600 kms from North to South over a time of 24 hours to be flagged off on 5th November from Point Pedro and end at Dondra Head: 6 renowned racing cyclists from USA, Britain and France to participate with 50 local riders.
- Motor Traders’ Assn Chairman Charaka Perera says current drop in vehicle prices is mainly due to increased interest rates and soaring inflation: also says disposable incomes have been affected, and lessees now find it difficult to continue their payments.
- General Secretary of the Electricity Consumers Union Sanjeewa Dhammika says star-class hotels and some institutions obtaining power from LECO have been exempted from Social Security Contribution Levy: laments that most people who pay the levy are the low-end consumers.
- New Zealand beat Sri Lanka comprehensively by 65 runs in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022: NZ 167/7 (20 overs): SL 102 all out (19.2 overs).
