- LKR selling rate crashes from 335.68 to 344.68 against the USD recording a massive depreciation of Rs.8.98 (2.7%) in a single day: LKR said to be trading in “grey” market at over 375.00 per USD: LKR also depreciates 8.7% from 387.11 to 420.68 against the GBP from 9th to 15th March.
- Media Spokesperson of the GMOA Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe says the island-wide strike launched by the GMOA will be called off temporarily at 8.00am today.
- Census Dept says the economy in 2022 suffered the worst ever contraction of 7.8%: 4th quarter contraction of 12.4%: all 3 major economic activities of Agriculture, Industry & Services suffer contraction: in 2021, growth was a positive 3.5%.
- People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections Director Rohana Hettiarachchi says it is highly unlikely the LG election would be held on April 25 as announced by the Elections Commission: laments the Govt is ignoring Court decisions.
- PM Dinesh Gunawardena says he will prevail on the President to submit a Cabinet proposal to rectify the British Crown’s decision to exile Ceylon’s national heroes of the Great Rebellion of Uva Wellassa: laments State Counsels and President’s Counsels have not come forward to correct that decision which betrayed the country’s national heroes.
- IFC Country Manager Alejandro Alvarez de la Campa explains the modalities of the much-hailed “USD 400mn cross-currency SWAP” for 3 Sri Lankan commercial banks: says the agreement is to trade currencies where cash flows in one currency is exchanged for cash flows in another currency at defined rates: analysts point out there is no new Forex inflow due to the SWAP as initially believed by some persons.
- Easter Sunday bomb attack main suspect Zaharan Hashim’s wife Fathima Hadiya granted bail by Kalmunai High Court after being detained under the PTA for 4 years: CID obtains detention order for 3 months under the PTA to detain & interrogate notorious drug dealers Nadun Chinthaka alias ‘Harak Kata’ & Salindu Malshika alias ‘Kudu Salindu’.
- Tea exports in Feb’23 down by 13% YoY: main tea categories dip: Turkey, Iraq and Russia emerge as top 3 buyers: exports to Japan, Lebanon & Belgium improve significantly.
- Cabinet Spokesman Dr Bandula Gunawardana warns “anyone who violates the essential services order will face the full force of the law”: however, due to yesterday’s strike, more than 90% of schools close: out-patient depts at hospitals close: dockers at the Colombo port stay away: air traffic controllers “go slow” for two hours.
- Finance State Minister Dr. Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says the country loses Rs. 46 bn in earnings per day due to strikes: also says the damage to education due to the strike is too high to be calculated: asserts the country and economy can’t be prevented from collapsing again if such “baseless strikes” are carried out.