- President’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake says the Govt’s agreement with the IMF for the USD 2.9 bn 4-year IMF programme will be presented to Parliament on 25 April: emphasises importance of a structural reform programme for economic recovery and sustainable growth.
- SLPP General Secretary MP Sagara Kariyawasam says its National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa may end up being its Presidential candidate in a future election: also says Party Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa still commands the loyalty of SLPP supporters.
- Election Commission to postpone the Local Government Election once again: the election was scheduled to be held on April 25, after being postponed earlier as well.
- Chairman of the National Delimitation Committee Mahindra Deshapriya says the total number of members of Local Government Authorities must be reduced to 4,714 as per the new Delimitation Report.
- CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe says SL’s sovereign lenders have yet to inform the Govt how they will engage with the country to restructure its USD 7.1 bn of debt and whether they will form an official committee or engage in bi-lateral talks.
- NielsenIQ’s Director Therica Miyanadeniya says expectations for the future have begun to pick up slowly: also says that according to LMD Magazine, 17% of the businesspeople interviewed in early March said they expect the economy to improve, compared to only 7% a month ago.
- State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says the Finance Ministry will bring down the price of school bags and shoes immediately: points out that with the start of the “new” school term, parents are having a hard time buying shoes and bags for their children: parents point out that the school term commenced in January.
- Special discussion headed by Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera held to plan the despatch of 100,000 monkeys to Chinese Zoos: Ministry of Agriculture states there is a high demand for SL monkeys (Toque macaque) from China, which will help resolve the issue of exceeding monkey population in the country.
- Cardinal Malcom Ranjith says the SL people’s struggle to defend their rights in the country’s grave situation is a witness to the new life transmitted by the “Risen One”.
- Test Cricket skipper Dimuth Karunaratne says his team is not underestimating any team and wants to put up a good challenge against Ireland during the forthcoming 2 Test match series.
