- President Ranil Wickremasinghe presents Budget 2023: says it is expected to achieve an economic growth rate of 7% to 8% through the social market economy based on reforms & modernization.
- Government to target public investment of Rs.1,220 bn in 2023; plans to be implemented to achieve FDI of USD 3 bn annually over the next 10 years: USD 3 bn expected from new exports annually from 2023-2032.
- Steps to be taken to reduce the budget deficit of 9.8% of GDP in 2022 to 7.9% of GDP in 2023: primary budget deficit of -4.0% of GDP in 2022 expected to be tightened to -0.7% in 2023.
- Sri Lankan Airlines, Telecom, Hilton, Water’s Edge and Sri Lanka Insurance to be “restructured”: proceeds to be used to strengthen forex reserves and Rupee.
- Budget proposes several new institutions: institution for “non-performing assets”: fully empowered centralized body for promotion of foreign trade & investment: Presidential Commission on Taxation: Agri-enterprise villages: and Authority to regulate Micro-finance loans.
- Central Bank rigidly fixes exchange rate for the past one week at Rs.360.97 (buying) and Rs.371.76 (selling) per USD: for the past 6 months, since 12th May 2022, the Central Bank has “fixed” the Rupee between Rs.360 & 370 per USD.
- Colombo Archbishop Cardinal Ranjith calls on Catholic lawyers to be “politically independent”: asks them to be the moral conscience of the nation.
- Reports emerge that 6 SLPP MPs Anura Yapa, Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Chandima Weerakkody, John Seneviratne, Jayaratne Herath and Piyankara Jayaratne have joined the SJB Alliance: Priyankara Jayaratne and Fernandopulle later deny the reports.
- Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake expected to make a return to active politics: likely to be appointed as the new General Secretary of the UNP.
- Sri Lanka’s Women’s Rugby captain Dulani Pallekondage goes missing while participating at the Asia Rugby 7’s Series, in Korea: Incheon Police start investigation.
