- Lanka Coal Company says it has secured only 12 coal shipments out of 30 scheduled for Oct’22-Apr’23 unloading season, so far: confirms that 30% part payments have been made for 13th to 17th shipments: also says 13th shipment already berthed in Puttalam while 14th is near, but balance 70% not paid yet due to lack of funds: meanwhile Central Bank says its Forex reserves have increased.
- Ceylon Chamber of Commerce asks China “to work with the IMF in order for Sri Lanka to receive its much needed funding”: says Govt has carried out an initial set of reforms and that the Chamber expects more reforms after IMF Board approval: present CCC office bearers have been vehemently demanding higher Govt taxes, IMF programme and an ISB Default.
- Central Bank settles about USD193mn (Rs.70.3bn) worth USD denominated SLDBs held by commercial banks and small-holders in Rupees through Treasury Bonds and cash: stock of SLDBs reduced to Rs 273bn from Rs.343bn.
- Health Ministry instructs Govt Hospitals to postpone non-essential & non-urgent surgeries at Govt hospitals: only “essential & urgent surgeries” to be performed.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe instructs Govt officials to purchase paddy at a guaranteed price of Rs.100 per kg: also says the Northern Province and Jaffna District will be developed as areas capable of supplying food to Sri Lanka.
- Mahanayakes of Malwatte & Asgiriya Chapters and Diyawadana Nilame of the Dalada Maligawa Pradeep Nilanga Dela request IGP to prevent slanderous propaganda in some social media defaming the Dalada Maligawa and the Mahanayake Theras.
- Mass Media Minister Dr Bandula Gunawardena says Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has defamed the IMF by saying “a SJB Govt is not bound to implement any agreement with the IMF”.
- State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe claims a few individuals including PUC Chairman Janaka Ratnayake are contributing to the delay in Sri Lanka obtaining the IMF Board approval for the USD 2.9 bn EFF: also says he doesn’t know their reason for doing so.
- Media Spokesman of the GMOA Dr Chamil Wijesinghe says stocks of over 140 essential drugs used for the treatment of patients have been exhausted: asserts the maintenance of health services of the entire hospital system is therefore a severe challenge.
- Dept of Motor Traffic Commissioner General Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe says over 700,000 vehicles identified to be in the category and brand of vehicles with faulty airbags which have been recalled by the manufacturers, are currently in operation in Sri Lanka.
