- The Election Commission informs the Supreme Court the Local Government Election will be held on time in compliance with the regulations pertaining to the holding of the Polls – stresses the Treasury has not yet informed whether grants cannot be allocated for the Polls.
- Lawyers stage protest in front of Hulftsdrop (Aluthkade) Court Complex demanding Judiciary’s autonomy in objection to the Attorney General’s alleged pressure on Magistrate hearing IUSF Convener Wasantha Mudalige’s case – Additional Magistrate Tharanga Mahawatta, who was hearing Mudalige’s case, has reportedly been dismissed over a complaint by the IGP claiming she treated the suspects ‘humanely’.
- India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from 19-20 January 2023 – scheduled to have officials discussions with his Sri Lankan counterpart Ali Sabry and pay courtesy call on President Wickremesinghe, Premier Gunawardena and other dignitaries.
- The Committee on Parliamentary Business decides to take into debate the controversial ‘Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill’ today – Parties of the Opposition raise severe objections claiming this is a blatant attempt by the Government to postpone the Local Government Election.
- Indika Nuwan Kumara, grandson of Indigenous Leader Uruvarige Wannila Aththo, to contest the upcoming Local Government Election from the National Democratic Party; currently serves as the Electoral Organiser of Mahiyanganaya – The Indigenous Community to contest for 65 villages including Mahiyanganaya.
- Commemorative event titled ‘Amathaka Nokaramu’ (Let’s Not Forget) held at the Documentation Centre Conference Hall of the Colombo National Library remembering slain and abducted journalists of Sri Lanka coincided with ‘Black January,’ a conventional month advocating for media freedom and remembering journalists subject to state-sponsored repression – Cabinet Minister Manusha Nanayakkara pays courtesy by attending the event.
- Sri Lanka Navy receives state-of-the-art camera ‘Olympus TG – 06’ used for advanced underwater shooting presented by naval personnel who followed the Forensic Diving Course at the Hulhumalé Coast Guard Base of Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) – The Gendarmerie Law Enforcement Forces of Frances has organised this Forensic Diving Course as part of the European Union Critical Maritime Routes in Indian Ocean (EU CRIMARIO) Programme.
- The Colombo Port City’s flagship investment project set to change the Colombo Landscape announces full speed to complete the ‘Duty Free’ complex – The Complex is said will be establishing a landmark in South Asia by setting up duty free retail operations involving an investment of over US$ 50 million.
- US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung accuses China of being the biggest obstacle to Sri Lanka receiving bailout – China responds harshly, reminds US is the largest shareholder of the IMF with a veto power over major policy decisions, sued the island nation in its federal court immediately after the announcement of ‘debt default,’ and has private creditors owning 40 per cent of Sri Lanka’s total external debt stock with the highest interest rates.
- Government to set up an ‘international trade office’ to boost exports and promote FDI following the enactment of the ‘International Trade Office Bill’ in Parliament – Sri Lanka’s FDI net inflows in the long-term is projected to trend around US$ 350 million in 2023, Finance Ministry’s econometric models and provisional data reveal.
