- Three members of the Public Utilities Commission reject PUCSL Chief Janaka Ratnayake’s proposal of 36 per cent electricity tariff hike to ease the difficulty of consumers in paying exorbitant price for a unit of electricity; proceed with 66 per cent hike of the Ceylon Electricity Board.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe instructs government officials to provide relief to low-income families without leaving anyone behind – directs to purchase adequate rice to feed 2.85 million (28,50,000) families subject to a maximum of Rs. 20 billion – each family to receive 10kg of rice in March and April.
- The Board of Investment Sri Lanka benchmarks the sustainable development goals by launching a MobileApp, the first of its nature, to enable investors to have easy access to investment-related information and offer a novel brand experience – App can be downloaded for both Apple and Android devices.
- Three minors were arrested by the Welipenna Police for brutally assaulting a grown man in Galmantha, Aluthgama-Mathugama area – The victim, 34 and a resident of Kurudhippita, Walagedara, succumbs to his injuries and dies.
- The Department of Motor Traffic announces more than one million (1,122,418) driver’s licence holders in Sri Lanka are women, considering the total of 12,700,000 holders; adds among them are 2,082 women who have obtained heavy vehicle licences; asserts there is a significant increase of women applicants for driver’s licences.
- The Treasury releases a circular on the government’s programme for purchasing and distribution of paddy – The circular issued under the signature of Treasury Secretary Siriwardena, on the direction of President Wickremesinghe, as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policy.
- The historic Temple of the Tooth Relic in the city of Kandy to host a “Janaraja Perahara” on February 19th, after a gap of 34 years: The procession has been organised to coincide with the 75th Independence Celebration, and will be inaugurated under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe says the government will not give in to the demands of protesters; stresses just because certain groups strike demanding the removal of certain officials, the government will not remove anyone arbitrarily as there is a procedure that is being followed; asserts the government will follow the rules and act accordingly: His comments follow two recent demonstrations demanding the removal of the Vice Chancellor of the Ruhuna University and the removal of the General Manager of a state Corporation.
- Four Police officers including an OIC attached to the Crimes Division of the Tissamaharama Police Station convicted and sentenced to death over the murder of a person during a raid in Tissamaharama in 2005: Verdict made by Hambantota High Court.
- Political parties of the Opposition claim the Government’s Printer and the Treasury Secretary have violated the constitutional duties entrusted with them by denying the issuance of funds for the Local Government Polls and the printing of ballot papers – Government’s Printer Gangani Liyanage responds saying she has acted within legitimate boundaries.
