- Ex AG Dappula De Livera summoned to the TID today over a claim he had allegedly made involving the 2019 Easter Sunday Massacre: Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe says the ex AG’s claim that “there is a grand conspiracy with regard to the attacks” has created a certain degree of ‘scepticism’ surrounding the probe into the massacre.
- The NTC announces that the semi-luxury bus service will be removed from operation after May 03 in consideration of a large number of complaints: Semi-luxury buses asked to convert their service into either normal service or a luxury bus service.
- The Cabinet approves the proposed road map and timeline for the restructuring process of the CEB: Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara says the final draft of the new “Electricity Act” will be presented to Parliament for approval by end of May 2023; asserts approval was also granted to establish a reform secretariat, obtain assistance of development agencies such as ADB, WB, USAID and JICA, to conduct a financial and human resource audit and to compete the transition process by October this year.
- SLPP political activists Jehan Hameed and Shenali Waduge, and ex Brigadier Athula De Silva file petition in the Supreme Court challenging the “constitutionality” of the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill proposing the decriminalisation of consensual same-sex relationships presented by SLPP MP Premnath Dolawatte: Women and children rights activists and human rights activists lodge intervening petitions challenging the petitions, calling them “baseless, malicious, fictitious and false.”
- SLTDA says it expects a total of 400,000 tourist arrivals for 2023 by April 20: As of April 16, 55,000 tourists were seen entering the island for the month of April alone: SLTDA Chairman Priyantha Fernando says most of the tourists who arrived since January were of Russian and Indian nationalities; adds they are expecting more Chinese tourists next month.
- Health Ministry announces that the issue of medicine shortages in the country is gradually easing: Additional Secretary Dr. Saman Rathnayake says there were over 170 types of medicines in short supply in the country about a month ago, but the number has reduced to less than 100 as of now; asserts provisions have been made to purchase 60 types of medicines currently in short supply.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe issues an extraordinary gazette declaring four more public services essential, under Section 02 of the Essential Public Services Act No. 61 of 1979: Services related to the supply of electricity, supply or distribution of petroleum products and fuel, postal service, and all types of work or labour required for the maintenance, care, feeding, and treatment of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, dispensaries, and similar institutions have been declared essential, with effect from April 17, 2023.
- The national Iftar ceremony organised on the occasion of the fasting month of Ramadan by the Muslims held at Temple Trees under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena: Premier Gunawardena urged Muslims to contribute to the create a prosperous Sri Lanka by taking it forward into the future, just as Muslims had actively contributed to the creation of national unity during the past decades.
- The Centre for Environmental and Nature Studies (CENS) raises strong concerns over the government’s decision to sell Toque macaques (Macaca sinica) monkeys to China, in a letter addressed to Gopal Baglay, the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, stating that the Sri Lankan government’s vaguely described justification over the action would be problematic; urges India, which considers monkeys are sacred, to intervene and protect these animals and not let “money sell God’s symbol and culture” to China.
- Sri Lanka 591/6 (Karunaratne 179, K Mendis 140, Samarawickrama 104, Chandimal 102) beat Ireland 143 (Tucker 45, Jayasuriya 7-52) and 168 (Tector 42, R Mendis 4-76, 3-56) by an innings and 280 runs: Prabath Jayasuriya picks up ten in the Test as Sri Lanka roll Ireland over for innings victory: Ramesh Mendis returned four second-innings wickets to hasten the end and skittle Ireland for 168.
