- Indian HC organises discussion on the use of the INR for transactions between India and Sri Lanka: CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe says there’s a strong desire among Indian and Sri Lankan business communities for enabling trade settlements in INR: Reserve Bank of India officials indicate possibility of settlement of current and capital account transactions in INR.
- UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara says budget allocations are an estimation and releasing the allocated funds is questionable when the Treasury is empty.
- Foreign Minister Ali Sabry says Sri Lanka is optimistic of receiving the USD 2.9 bn facility from IMF as all 15 conditions have been fulfilled: adds there was a stalemate since China’s debt restructuring assurance was not compatible with the IMF requirement: analysts say it’s now 50 weeks since Sri Lanka approached IMF and not a single dollar has been received during this time from the IMF or any other bilateral lender.
- Senior Adviser of the Poultry Businessmen’s Assn Mathali Jayasekara says the Govt hasn’t been able to obtain assurances from the Indian Govt that there is no avian flu risk when importing eggs from India: also says small and medium-scale egg producers have left the industry due to the shortage of raw material: warns of an egg shortage during the holiday season.
- State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says the Ministry will respect and act according to the interim order of the Supreme Court preventing the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance from withholding funds allocated through the 2023 Budget for the LG Polls.
- Consul General of India in Jaffna Raakesh Nattaj says several new Indian airlines are ready to operate flights to Jaffna from new destinations in India.
- Sri Lanka’s top model, dress designer & ballet dancer Sandani Peiris 22, placed 2nd Runner-Up at the WBO Top Model of The World pageant in the Egyptian city of Sharm El Sheikh: pageant won by Miss Mexico Mariana Macias with Miss Colombia Leicy Rivas Moreno being 1st Runner-Up.
- CR & FC beats Navy SC 24-18 in the Clifford Cup Knock-Out Rugby Tournament final, winning the title after 17 years in their centenary year: the tournament is the oldest rugby tournament in Asia.
- Sri Lanka’s Lucion Pushparaj wins 4th place at the Arnold Classic 2023 body-building competition, in Columbus, Ohio, in the ‘Super Heavyweight’ category: the competition is named after its co-founder, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the legendary bodybuilder, Hollywood star & politician.
- New book ‘An Island’s Eleven’ by British writer Nicholas Brookes reveals that the legendary Sir Donald Bradman played at the Colombo Cricket Club grounds at Maitland Place, Colombo on 3rd April 1930, en route to England: in that match, Bradman scored 40 runs and was out “hit wicket” to debutant Neil Joseph’s first ball in international cricket.
