- President Ranil Wickremesinghe says Sri Lanka expects to receive the USD 2.9 bn Extended Fund Facility from the IMF next month: previously, the facility was expected by September 2022.
- Speculation mounts of a strong possibility of the LG polls, originally scheduled for 9th March, being cancelled or postponed: Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardene continues to refuse to release funds for the purpose, although Rs.10bn has been approved by Parliament in the Budget 2023.
- Chairman Elections Commission says that the Commission will file a motion before Supreme Court citing the difficulties of inadequate funds, inability to print required ballot papers by the Govt Press, inadequate fuel supply for transport etc. that hinder it from holding the LG elections on 9th March, as undertaken before the Supreme Court.
- SJB Deputy National Organiser and MP S M Marikkar says Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana and Govt Printer Gangani Liyanage will be the next to face legal action for their attempts to obstruct the upcoming LG elections: asserts the Constitution is the supreme law of the country and is above any circular issued by the Ministry.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe promises to prioritise economic recovery and to maintain law & order to prevent anarchy: also says he aims to restore the economy and establish a democratic society by year-end.
- Asia’s leading polls monitoring outfit, Asian Network for Free Elections says it is deeply concerned by the numerous attempts to disrupt the long overdue local elections in Sri Lanka: alerts the local elections were supposed to be held on 20th March 2022, and has been postponed for almost a year.
- Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera says the Ministry has given permission to import eggs on a temporary basis from India for the needs of Sri Lanka’s struggling bakery industry, owing to the egg shortages: hopes this would be the last time Sri Lanka has to import eggs.
- Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera says permission has been granted to kill monkeys, peacocks, grizzled giant squirrels, porcupines, wild boars and toque macaques as those animals destroy crops: Minister’s order in response to farmers’ claims that the population of some wild animals has grown uncontrollably, after the killing of wild animals had been stopped in the country.
- Govt Medical Officers Assn spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe says between 50 to 60 doctors apply for leave each month for employment abroad: also says some doctors have left the country even without obtaining leave: estimates that more than 1,000 doctors have left the country last year.
- MEPA’s newly-appointed Chairman Asela B Rekawa appoints a 3-member Expert Advisory Panel to expedite the civil action on MV X-Press Pearl marine disaster on 19th May 2021: prescription period of 2 years for any claim, looms.
