- SLPP Leader and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa marks his 77th birthday amongst family and friends with religious observances: large crowds throng his hometown in Tangalle, to greet him.
- UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara says the much-awaited IMF agreement may be delayed further till around mid-2023: if so, it will be over 15 months since Sri Lanka sought IMF help: previously CB Governor Dr Weerasinghe had stated IMF assistance would be forthcoming in a much shorter period.
- UNP Chairman and MP Wajira Abeywardene says Parliament hasn’t approved announcement of bankruptcy by a few officials: also says in most countries persons who did so without authority would have been jailed: calls for an immediate investigation into the matter: urges Parliament to take control of economy and not allow foreign forces to do so: asks Parliament to place cap on interest rates.
- Dissident SLPP MP Dr. Nalaka Godahewa says the Government has ignored youth in Budget 2023: also says 50% of population is under 35 years, while 25% is under 15: asserts the country can’t progress without focusing on youth needs & demands.
- Former Finance Minister and SLPP National Organizer Basil Rajapaksa due to return to Sri Lanka today: expected to reorganize the Party upon his arrival.
- Centre for Environmental Justice Chairman Ravindranath Dabare says Sri Lanka could file legal action in Singapore over the MV X-Press Pearl disaster: President Wickremesinghe has also instructed Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe to do so at the Int’l Court of Arbitration in Singapore.
- Police shoot & kill 2 alleged accomplices of notorious underworld gangster Uragaha Indika in a shoot-out at Minuwangoda: one Police officer also injured.
- Pivithiru Hela Urumaya Leader MP Udaya Gammanpila says issue of T-Bills to the Central Bank has increased by a staggering 55% under CB Governor Dr Weerasinghe compared to former Governor Cabraal: queries how “money printing” was considered inflationary at that time, but not now.
- CSE’s ASPI index closes 217 points lower at 7,818: lowest since 1st August: crashes for 5th straight session: brokers say it’s because of high taxes & fees, Government’s indecisive stance re. local debt restructuring, and incomplete information re. impending IMF deal.
- Top Cricketer Danushka Gunathilake who had been accused of sexual assault by a Australian woman introduced via a “dating website”, granted bail by a Magistrate Court in Sydney: Gunathilake due to reside in a wealthy Sri Lankan’s house during the period of his bail.
