- Sri Lanka’s flagship tea company Dilmah Tea’s CEO Dilhan Fernando threatens to pull its products out from Australian supermarkets: wants major Australian retail chains to pay more for its handcrafted brands of Ceylon teas and cease demands for discounts: also says the company has been losing money in Australia for more than a decade.
- CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe and Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana say Treasury Bills held by the CB will be considered for “debt treatment”: also affirm that a “voluntary domestic debt optimization” operation “without coercion” is envisaged for Treasury Bonds: previously, Governor Weerasinghe had assured there would not be any local currency debt restructuring.
- LKR depreciates for the 6th consecutive day: loses a further Rs.0.60 against the USD from Rs.335.41 on 30.03.23 to 336.01 on 31.03.23: depreciation of 2.25% recorded in the 6-day period.
- Consumer prices jump 2.5% in March 2023, though 12-month inflation eases slightly to 50.3% from 50.6% a month earlier: re-based CCPI increases from 189.5 pints to 195.0 points, partly driven by the large power tariff hike: CB’s TB holdings (money printing) increases by a staggering Rs.995 billion upto 15th March 2023, under the watch of Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe.
- Former Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya says the postponement of the LG election is a crime which affects the country’s democracy: says the postponement should not be justified under any circumstances.
- National Christian Fellowship condemns the doctrine of local “Prophet” Jerome Fernando: states dubious prophets, miracle workers, faith healers and prosperity gospel preachers are exploiting innocent believers.
- Foreign Employment Bureau suspends women who have left overseas without registering with the Bureau from being admitted to “Suraksha” safe houses operated at SL embassies in the Middle East: decision to be effective from 1st April 2023.
- Cabinet spokesman, SLPP Economic Guru & Minister Dr Bandula Gunawardena says Sri Lanka has cheated the IMF on 16 occasions over the years by not acting in accordance with the conditions agreed upon.
- Hector Kobbekaduwa Agricultural Training and Research Institute study reveals the food consumption patterns of citizens have been devastatingly impacted by the on-going economic crisis: states domestic demand for “Kohila” has surged by 45% as citizens are forced to eat whatever vegetable they could find.
- Minister of Sports requests a discussion with the International Cricket Council on social media reports that the ICC has appointed a 3-member committee to investigate political infringements in the administration of Sri Lanka Cricket.
