Sri Lanka Original Narrative Summary: 19/12

Date:

  1. Transport Minister Dr Bandula Gunawardane begins pilot project to plant cinnamon trees on both sides of the Southern Expressway: says the cinnamon plants have been donated to the Road Development Authority by Minister Dr Ramesh Pathirana.
  2. MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena says the SLPP is ready for an election at any time: refutes Opposition claims the Govt is trying to postpone the Local Government Elections: also says the SLPP has already called for applications for candidates.
  3. National Chamber of Commerce President Nandika Buddhipala laments previous governments had not been serious about implementing reforms: claims Sri Lanka has 527 SOEs and labour costs of such SOEs are around 70% higher than in private firms: says present govt is serious about restructuring and has to be encouraged.
  4. President Ranil Wickremesinghe promotes Rear Admiral Priyantha Perera to rank of Vice Admiral: appoints him the 25th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy.
  5. China’s Embassy in Sri Lanka tweets that 75 years ago on 18th December 1952, China and Sri Lanka signed the historic Rubber-Rice Pact: says the Pact alleviated the rice and foreign reserves shortage and opened doors to diplomatic ties between the two countries.
  6. Minister of Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara says over 300,000 Sri Lankans have left the country this year for foreign employment: claims this is the highest number of Sri Lankans leaving for foreign jobs since independence.
  7. Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera says there are about 100,000 acres of paddy lands that have not been cultivated and that the Govt will “take over” those lands in 2023 for 5 years: asserts the Agricultural Act will be amended for this purpose.
  8. Free Trade Zone Manufacturers Assn notes apparel industry is facing huge setbacks: employees compelled to quit with no allowances and limited work-days: industry facing 25% drop in orders: SME sector providing garments to the larger apparel corporates on the brink of closure.
  9. New electricity tariff rates to be submitted to the Cabinet by January 2023, by-passing Public Utilities Commission: Cabinet paper being prepared setting the average selling price at Rs 42 per unit.
  10. Dasun Shanaka remains skipper for the white-ball Cricket series against India starting in January 2023: two vice captains also appointed – Kusal Mendis and Wanindu Hasaranga.

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