- SLPP Chairman and now “Independent” group leader Professor G L Pieris says the Sri Lankan Government has antagonised India, China, Japan, and US: explains the basic problem is lack of credibility.
- President and Finance Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe to present Budget 2023 today: likely to be aimed at long term, stable economic growth.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe says it’s important to have increased defence allocations as the country is looking at an economy that will be highly competitive and export-oriented.
- CPC Chairman Uvais Mohamed says the crude oil tanker anchored offshore for nearly 50 days finally began discharging its 99,000 MT cargo valued at around USD 80 mn, under a “bonded warehouse” type payment arrangement: Trade Unions allege delay resulted in about USD 7.5 mn being incurred as demurrage.
- President’s Office rejects request from Foreign Ministry to grant extensions to 4 Envoys to complete their 3-year terms.
- IMF Senior Mission Chief Peter Breuer says Sri Lanka’s loan will depend on assurances from official bilateral creditors to restore debt sustainability and authorities’ ability to reach consensus with private creditors in relation to debt restructure: reports emerge that it’s unlikely the loan of USD 2.9 bn over 4 years, will materialize before March 2023.
- Attorney General files indictments in Colombo High Court against 8 persons for environmental damage caused to Sri Lanka’s coastline due to the X-Press Pearl disaster: accused include the vessel’s captain and local agent.
- Education Ministry circular cuts school-going students’ insurance coverage for the death of a parent or legal guardian to Rs.75,000 from Rs.200,000: only students from low-income families to be eligible.
- Consultant Community Physician Dr. Onali Rajapaksa says 4,000 Tuberculosis (TB) patients reported across the country in the first two quarters of 2022: Colombo District accounts for 20–25% of the cases diagnosed.
- International Cricket Council announces that the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 will be held in Sri Lanka.
