- IMF Asia and Pacific Department Director Krishna Srinivasan says the IMF has not taken a decision to provide approval for Sri Lanka’s EF Facility before receiving financial assurance from China: also says the ideal way would be to await financial assurance from China.
- Chartered Accountants’ Taxation Faculty Chairman Tishan Subasinghe says Govt will record a Rs.2.4 tn budget deficit in 2023 despite the recently imposed taxes: explains such deficit will be mainly due to the increasing interest cost: also says money is being printed at a higher rate and at least Rs.1.3 tn would be added to interest payments.
- University teachers supporting the JVP-led NPP call on people to consider the forthcoming local council polls as a referendum on the popularity and legitimacy of the incumbent Govt.
- State Trading Corp GM Chamila Iddamalgoda says 2 mn eggs will be imported from India next week: Egg Producers Assn Chairman R M Sarath Attanayake says only 5 mn eggs are being produced now although the daily requirement is 5.5 mn.
- WFP’s Household Food Security Survey (Dec”22) reveals that 1 in 3 households of Sri Lankans are food insecure: nearly 7 in 10 are adopting food-based “coping strategies” such as relying on less preferred food, limiting portion sizes & reducing the number of meals: over 8 in 10 turning to “livelihood coping strategies” such as borrowing money or spending savings.
- Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardene and Japanese Ambassador Hideaki sign an agreement for a USD 46 mn Japanese grant to provide 20 mn litres of diesel for public hospitals.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe appoints a “special committee” including TRC Chairman Professor Niranjan Gunawardana on a “special request” made by the Ven. Atamasthanadhipathi Thera to investigate claims that telecom towers are harming the Sri Maha Bodhiya.
- Police use tear gas and water cannons to disperse students from Buddhist & Pali University who were staging a satyagraha in Homagama.
- BOI grants approval to the Adani Group to set up 2 wind-power plants in Mannar and Pooneryn, generating 250Mw and 100Mw power: total investment of USD 442mn and 1,500 to 2,000 employment opportunities are expected to be generated: power expected to be added to the national grid within 2 years.
- President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake orders that all Govt officials except the Chief Justice, Justices of the Supreme Court, Chairman and Justices of the Court of Appeal should purchase Economy Class tickets for official travel abroad: adds directives issued after taking the current financial difficulties in the country, into account .
