- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe promotes Rear Admiral Priyantha Perera to rank of Vice Admiral: appoints him the 25th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Sri Lanka Original Narrative Summary: 19/12
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