01. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena says the ballot papers used in the secret ballot to elect a MP to the Office of President on 20.07.2022 has been destroyed; adds the action was taken by the Parliament Secretary General following the procedure in terms of provisions of Section 18 of the said Act and with the approval of the Committee on Parliamentary Business.
02. A South Korean delegation led by Kim Byong Boo, CEO of “Hyundai Marine Company”, arrives in Sri Lanka to inspect the interview process and training related to the selection of Sri Lankan youth for South Korean jobs; asserts the Company expects to provide more job opportunities to SL youth in SK.
03. Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara says measures are being taken to obtain assets and liabilities statements from TU leaders who are yet to submit their declarations; adds TU leaders of government and semi-government institutions are required to submit their assets and liabilities statements according to the Declarations of Assets and Liabilities Act; laments no TU leader has provided such a statement so far.
04. The World Bank warns the Sri Lankan economy will continue to face significant challenges in 2023 and beyond: The baseline scenario projects the economy to contract by 4.3 per cent in 2023, following the contraction of 7.8 per cent in the previous year, as demand continues to be subdued, jobs and income losses intensify, and supply side constraints adversely affect production: WB stresses the restructuring of external debt and certain domestic debt will be needed to restore debt sustainability.
05. Emeritus Professor Jayadeva Uyangoda warns the proposed “Anti-Terrorism Bill” paves the way to label common citizens as terrorists; alleges that in order to implement the IMF requirements to solve the country’s economic crisis, the government has placed the burden on the poor and vulnerable, working and middle classes; laments the ruling elite wants to suppress the protests and demonstrations launched by the people, and the said bill is one of the undemocratic ways the government will follow to crack down on dissent.
06. Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe says the Treasury can no longer tolerate the operation of loss incurring public bodies or ones that have failed to reach the expected targets; stresses 39 out of 52 public bodies of ‘strategic’ importance incur profits and 13 losses; laments the loss incurred by the said 13 amounts to Rs. 1,029 million, and the profit by the said 39 Rs. 218 billion; reveals the total loss per annum amounts to over Rs. 811 billion, and profit-making bodies have paid only Rs. 29 million as taxes required by the Treasury.
07. The Bar Association says the powers and the privileges of Parliament have not been violated by the Supreme Court order on the LG Polls; stresses the Supreme Court, being a sovereign body, should not be called upon to explain judicial orders to any other person or institution; calls for all governmental and other institutions to respect and observe the independence of the Judiciary, and any interference in the judicial process, sets a dangerous precedent.
08. ADB’s annual flagship economic publication, the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2023, forecasts Sri Lanka’s economy to contract further in 2023 before it begins a gradual recovery in 2024, as the country navigates an unprecedented economic crisis: The economy contracted by 7.8 per cent in 2022 and is forecast to contract by 3 per cent in 2023 as it continues to grapple with the challenge of debt restructuring and balance of payments difficulties: Suggests reform measures, such as the reversal of the tax cuts of 2019, and the IMF’s EFF will support the country’s efforts to stabilise economy.
09. CID’s Crime Branch submitting its final report on the case of underworld gangster Maddumage Lasantha Chandana Perera alias ‘Angoda Lokka’ to the Chief Judicial Magistrate court says he died due to cardiac arrest: Lokka was found dead in a rented house at Balaji Nagar near Cheran Ma Nagar in July, 2020.
10. Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) extends its exclusive global media rights partnership to broadcast Sri Lanka Cricket matches for the next four years until March 2027: From mid-April, the broadcaster will exclusively televise and livestream the senior men’s cricket matches hosted by SLC globally, except in Sri Lanka, where it has only pay television rights.
