- SJB expresses doubts that the Govt will keep its promises to the IMF: MP Patali Champika Ranawaka says the IMF is charging an exorbitant interest rate of over 8 per cent per annum on its USD 3 bn loan to Sri Lanka.
- Former CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal calls for a top level probe to ascertain whether Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe and Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardene (as Members of the Monetary Board), had approved of the EPF management investing EPF Members’ funds in Government T-Bills & Bonds after the SL Govt securities had been rated as “Default”, and while knowing of the impending “hair-cut”: asserts that, by their actions, they would have caused losses of several hundreds of billions of rupees to the EPF Members.
- Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chairman Vish Govindasamy says the country has only gained a “fragile stability”: asserts there is a lot more to be done in future: CCC and Govindasamy have been strong advocates for the Govt’s “debt default” and the IMF programme which has resulted in the sharp depreciation of the LKR, very high interest rates, high utility prices, massive negative growth, discontinuation of Forex construction contracts, etc
- Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development & Housing W S Satyananda says the Ministry will launch a new housing project for the underprivileged community in Colombo, with the assistance of USD 450 mn from China: 1,995 houses to be built across 5 areas in Colombo and the project to be completed in 2 years.
- SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara says the SJB has decided to initiate disciplinary action against MP A H M Fowzie for voting in favour of the IMF, in contravention of the party decision.
- Court orders fines of Rs.4.1 mn on 29 stores that sold eggs above the current maximum retail price in Wattala, Attanagalla, Negombo, Minuwangoda, and Gampaha.
- CID names former MP J Sri Ranga as a suspect over the incident of setting fire to President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private residence in Colombo: Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage orders Sri Ranga to appear before Court on 3rd May: the former MP is currently in custody for allegedly influencing witnesses of a fatal traffic accident in Vavuniya in 2011.
- SLPP rebel and FPC MP Professor Charitha Herath says the IMF agreement is perhaps the most devastating document against the 4-decade-long political career of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa: asserts there’s a great disparity between the contents of the “IMF” document and the politics of the ruling party led by Rajapaksa.
- The sudden deaths of hundreds of fish in Kotmale Oya which supplies water to the Upper Kotmale reservoir leave local authorities baffled: Lindula MOH Dr Dureirajah Rishinee says dead fish and water samples have been sent to the Peradeniya Uni’s Veterinary Hospital to test.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe says he intends to establish an “Institute of History”, with the aim of bringing together the museum, archives, archaeology, cultural triangle, and universities.
