- Sri Jayawardenepura University Immunology and Molecular Medicine Dengue Research Centre Director Professor Neelika Malavige says dengue cases are at an all-time high after two years.
- Sri Lankan-born Galleon Fund founder Raj Rajaratnam, allegedly the mastermind of the largest hedge-fund insider-trading ring in US history, due to meet some Sri Lankan politicians in the coming days: former CB Governor and present Debt Advisor to the President Dr Indrajith Coomaraswamy was also a Director of Rajaratnam’s Galleon Group.
- Excise Commissioner General M.J.Gunasiri says the Excise Department has recorded an annual income of Rs.170 bn, it’s highest in 110 years: previous incomes were Rs.121 bn in 2020 and Rs.140 bn in 2021: also says this was achieved in the background of alcohol price increase and decrease in demand during the last 6 months of 2022.
- Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says over Rs.3.5 bn per month was paid as allowances and salaries for employees of the CEB: also says CEB’s revenue was Rs.33.6 bn for Oct’22 and Rs.35.6 bn for Nov’22.
- Dominant party of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Ilankai Tamil Arashu Katchchi (ITAK) declines the request to accommodate other Tamil parties except its traditional allies to form a broad political alliance.
- American national Pritchett Jermaine Adriun, 38, identified as a taxi driver in the USA, arrested by Police at the Katunayake International Airport with 10.9 mm live bullets: suspect said to have come to Sri Lanka with his Japanese girlfriend to attend the wedding ceremony of a friend.
- Agriculture Ministry begins to deposit money in the bank accounts of the paddy farmers utilizing Rs.8 bn grant of the ADB: small-scale farmers cultivating paddy to receive financial support of Rs.10,000 for a hectare, upto a maximum of 2 hectares, under the scheme.
- Tens of thousands of Sri Lankan individuals and corporates to cut spending and investment from Jan’23 as steep income tax rates come into force: over 65% inflation, tripled interest rates, high energy prices and the massive tax hike to sharply affect spending on consumption of wage earners: many Sri Lankans scrambling to migrate.
- State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe says approval of IMF will be received in Q1 of 2023: points out that USD 2,900mn in 4 years (in 8 tranches of USD 362 mn once every 6 months) is not a “meagre aid”: also says the arrangement “builds trust in the country” beyond financial value: in the 6 months prior to seeking IMF assistance, the Sri Lankan authorities secured Forex inflows of USD 4,000 mn.
- Government Information Department says all inbound travelers and outbound Sri Lankans could fill “Arrival and Departure Cards” online from 1st January 2023 onwards.
Sri Lanka Original Narrative Summary: 30/12
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