- Supreme Court grants permission for the 2023 Local Government Election to go ahead as planned by the National Election Commission: stresses the EC is bound to protect the people’s franchise – Hearing of writ by Retd. Col. W.M.R. Wijesundara adjourned till February 23, 2023.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe requests political leaders to dedicate themselves to building the country: asserts investments currently receiving confirm the belief that the country’s economy would ‘recover’ very soon: stresses unpopular and difficult decisions may have to be taken, as the popular ones would not serve to develop a country: Remarks made during the unveiling of SL’s first locally assembled Hyundai i10 Grand.
- The National Election Commission summons LG Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners to the EC: Chairman Nimal Punchihewa says the discussion will focus on the preparations for the LG polls including setting up polling booths, counting of votes etc.
- Concerns pertaining to releasing land needed to start investments in Sri Lanka taken into consideration at the Parliament Select Committee to study and provide recommendations on the problems and difficulties arisen in relation to enhancing the rank in the Ease of Doing Business Index: Committee stresses the need for the officials of the relevant institutions to work efficiently, paying special attention to the provision of land required for investment even within the existing legal provisions.
- Pakistan’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza calls on President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo during his three-day visit in Sri Lanka; recalls the long-standing close relationship between the two nations; also presents a momento to President Wickremesinghe.
- NEC introduces a new web portal for citizens of Sri Lanka to obtain information about the candidates contesting for the upcoming LG polls: The site allows the public to obtain information on the list of candidates of a particular political party/independent group in a local council who are contesting the polls.
- Former Minister, MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara says the Rs. 5000 must be removed from the monetary system of Sri Lanka as a measure to help ‘mitigate the black currency;’ asserts the move alone will help the government collect the necessary income tax.
- Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry assures the Sri Lankan Government will ‘decriminalise’ homosexuality, but same-sex marriage will not be legalised – Response made towards appeals made by UN member states including UK, US, Canada and Norway at the 4th cycle of the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva, Switzerland.
- The Supreme Court dismisses a contempt of court application filed by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka against several state officials of the power sector over the failure to comply with the settlement to provide uninterrupted electricity for AL students during the exams: Parties include the Chairman of the CEB, the Secretary of the Ministry of Power and Energy and the Chairman of the CEYPETCO.
- Sri Lanka beat South Africa in the opening match of the Women’s T20 World Cup in Cape Town: SA 126/9 in 20 overs: SL 129/4: SL to take on Bangladesh next, whilst SA to be aiming to bounce back in a key encounter against New Zealand.
