- State-run LP gas distributor LITRO announces the prices of domestic gas cylinders are slashed whilst incurring a record-breaking profit of over Rs. 01 billion in 2022: New gas prices – 12.5kg cylinder slashed by Rs. 201 (Rs. 4,409); 05kg cylinder slashed by Rs. 80 (Rs. 1,770); 2.3kg cylinder slashed by Rs. 38 (Rs. 822) – Private distributor LAUGFS subsequently slashes gas prices: New gas prices – 12.5kg cylinder slashed by Rs. 220 (Rs. 5,080); 05kg cylinder slashed by Rs. 88 (Rs. 2,032).
- The National Youth Platform giving Sri Lankan youth the opportunity to be a part of the nation-building process in making the country prosperous and well-developed by 2048 to be formed concurrently with the 75th National Independence Day celebrations under the advice of President Wickremesinghe.
- Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says 1,200 metric tonnes of illegally imported brown sugar under the guise of white sugar has been confiscated; Importation of brown sugar is restricted in Sri Lanka as the country produces sufficient quantities of it, but the Customs has discovered more than 50 per cent of the consignment in the containers imported by the concerned businessman are brown sugar.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe stresses the need of a good foreign service which will be able to forge broader relations with many countries whilst safeguarding the sovereignty of Sri Lanka – asserts there will be economic plans as well as the security objectives, and the climate change objectives in the country also need fulfilling.
- YouTube activist Sepal Amarasinghe arrested over alleged ‘blasphemy’ remanded till January 10 as ordered by Colombo Additional Magistrate Tharanga Mahawatta.
- Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Education Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda says his party will contest the upcoming Local Government Election for the first time; asserts the FSP will submit nominations to several Local Government bodies whilst negotiations to field candidates in alliance with other leftist parties or under independent groups are underway. – Final decision pending announcement.
- The official reserves drop by about US$ 90 million in December 2022, and the country’s official reserves by the end of 2022 recorded at US$ 1,896 million, out of which about US$ 1,400 million was from the swap facility from China – Despite still unconfirmed IMF assistance, analysts lament any measure restricting imports to maintain balance between forex inflow and outflow won’t bar the contracting of economy leading to the hindering of growth; predict revival in tourism industry may change the course up to a certain extent.
- Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara says “renewable energy integration plans, challenges, financial and technical assistance needed, e-mobility and ongoing restructuring plans of CEB and CPC” were discussed with visiting UN Assistant Secretary General and UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Kanni Wignaraja.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe says the government is working to introduce an Act similar to the “Telecommunications and Social Media Act” currently used in Singapore to regulate Social Media platforms including YouTube and Facebook – Activists lament the current regime is in a relentless attempt to repress Social Media whose uncensored storytelling is threatening to the regime itself and the state-backing Mass Media.
- The Committee on Public Enterprises (CoPE) decides to file a complaint with the Speaker against Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara for criticising the powers of CoPE and the Auditor General; denotes the Minister’s comment sets a wrong precedent, and such a comment could bring disrepute to CoPE as a whole.
