- President Ranil Wickremasinghe says the IMF EFF will restore Sri Lanka’s international recognition, ensure the country is not bankrupt & help banks to regain international recognition: also says it will create opportunities for low interest credit, restore foreign investor confidence & lay the foundation for a strong new economy.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe tables the IMF agreement in Parliament: urges Opposition to unite and disregard political differences to assist in carrying out the IMF agreement, which will aid in the development of Sri Lanka’s economy.
- President Ranil Wickremasinghe says the Govt has agreed with IMF to reduce the primary deficit to 2.3% of GDP by 2025 & increase revenue to 14% of GDP by 2026: standard corporate income tax rate to be raised to 30% & sectoral tax holidays to be eliminated: PAYE tax rate to be raised from 12% to 15% & the tax exemption limit to be reduced from Rs 300 mn to Rs 80 mn.
- SJB MP & Economic Guru Dr Harsha Silva says he is happy about the IMF EFF: asserts he is not hypocritical to not appreciate it: Silva had previously strongly supported the sovereign debt default as well.
- SJB MP and Financial expert Eran Wickremaratne says some are of the opinion that all problems will vanish into thin air just because the IMF loan is approved: asserts the IMF loan is like getting our necks into the noose first so that they would feed us thereafter: queries from where the social protection for the people is forthcoming.
- Epidemiology Acting Chief Dr Samitha Ginige reassures the public that there is no danger of a listeriosis spread in the island: urges the public to refrain from creating undue fear regarding the bacterial infection.
- IMF predicts that restructuring the public sector debt and bad loans in the private sector would cost around 6% of the 2022 GDP for Sri Lanka’s banking and finance sector: states this would require a capital infusion equal to that amount in order to cover the bad loans.
- Rupee appreciates against the USD: buying rate at Rs.312.61 & selling rate at Rs.330.16: Gold prices also reduce by around Rs.10,000 with a 22-karat sovereign being quoted at Rs.152,000.
- Colombo University Economics Senior Lecturer Dr Shanuka Senarath says SL is currently in an interval in hell: asserts this is just the tip of the iceberg and that all the problems are still under the carpet.
- Colombo Grand Mosque says the Muslims in Sri Lanka will begin the month of Ramadan fasting from dawn on Friday, March 24.
