- Russian Ambassador in SL – Levan Dzhagaryan says sanctions imposed by the US on SL’s former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda are totally unacceptable: previously, US State Dept announced that Karannagoda, the current Governor of North Western Province, and his family are banned from entering the US over “violation of human rights”: SL Govt has also expressed grave concerns about the US action.
- Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe says the Govt will delay the tabling of the Anti-Terrorism Act in Parliament until broader consensus is reached.
- NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake claims there’s a connection between the IMF loan and the CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe’s decision to default on foreign debt: also says the decision to default had been taken
even though money had been allocated from the budget: labels decision as “conspiratorial”: similar allegations against Governor Weerasinghe have been made by several MPs: reports show pipeline of inflows at the time of the sudden default announcement was a massive USD 10.7 billion. - Shares at the CSE fall further: investors await more clarity on local debt restructuring: ASPI falls below 9000 to 8983.
- Dept of Census & Statistics says the Overall Rate of Inflation, as measured by CCPI dropped to 35.3% in Apr’23, compared to 50.3% in Mar’23: analysts allege the Census Dept arbitrarily changed it’s base for the calculation of the CCPI from Feb’23 onwards to reflect and report a lower CCPI.
- CB Annual Report 2022 states “stunting” and “wasting” among children under 5 years had increased to 9.2% and 10.1% in 2022, from 7.4% and 8.2% in 202
- SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ashok Pathirage says “privatization” of the airline would help as long as the right partner is found: Airline’s CEO Richard Nuttall says there is a need to reactivate the fleet and replace the aircraft with expiring leases.
- Committee on Parliamentary Business decide to take the Sri Lanka Central Bank Bill for debate (second reading) on 11th May.
- Parliament approves Sri Lanka’s Agreement with the IMF with 120 voting for and 25 against: 80 MPs abstain: strong IMF & Default proponent Harsha de Silva, and SJB MPs walk out at voting time: former President Mahinda Rajapaksa votes for: MPs G L Pieris, Wimal Weerawansa, Vasudeva Nanayakkara vote against: Namal Rajapaksa not present.
- SL win 2nd Cricket Test against Ireland by an innings & 10 runs: SL – 704/3d (Kusal Mendis 245, Nishan Madushka 205, Dimuth Karunaratne 115, Angelo Mathews 100*) IRE – 492 & 202: SL win series 2-0: Prabath Jayasuriya becomes fastest in the world to take 50 Test wickets as a spinner and fastest SL bowler to take 50 Test wickets.
Sri Lanka Original Narrative Summary: 29/04
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