1. State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says the Govt expects to allow vehicle imports with the payment of customs duties in forex: this proposal was originally mooted by former CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal in September 2021, but was not implemented by the Govt of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
2. All Ceylon Health Trade Union Federation General Secretary Dr. Jayantha Bandara alleges that the Govt only bears 40% of the total health costs with the private sector accounting for 60%: also says there are crippling medicine shortages in state-run hospitals and no equipment or materials for testing.
3. The Tamil National Alliance informs President Wickremesinghe that if the current Govt fails to provide a solution to the ethnic question within a certain period, it will take steps to find a solution under the international law of self-determination: alleges the Govt has deceived the Tamil people again.
4. President’s Advisor Ruwan Wijewardene says former Minister and son of the visionary leader Gamini Dissanayake, Navin Dissanayake will be appointed as the Governor of the Sabaragamuwa Province on June 13th.
5. SJB MP Harsha Silva warns the crisis faced by the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector is worsening: calls for urgent measures to ease their plight: analysts point out that it was MP Harsha Silva who fiercely advocated exchange rate float, debt restructuring, increased interest rates and higher taxes, that has led to current plight of the MSMEs.
6. Court of Appeal Judge Justice Sobhitha Rajakaruna appointed Acting President of the Court of Appeal by President Ranil Wickremasinghe.
7. Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa says the Katunayake situated “Miracle Dome” built by Pastor Jerome Fernando is not closed for the public, but under police security due to the risk of clashes that might break out between people.
8. Poultry producers say a kg of chicken meat can be brought down to Rs.1,200 within 3 months: presently a kg of chicken is being sold at around Rs.1,300.
9. Vavuniya High Court Judge M. Illancheliyan hands down the death sentence to former Vavuniya PLOTE leader Sivanadan Premanath, alias Nedumaran, after finding him guilty of murder of Vavuniya General Hospital Gynaecologist Dr. Mohammad Sulthan Meera Mohideen in 2000.
10. Athletics and Sports Ministry officials warmly welcome the Athletes who took part at the Asian Junior Athletic championship in South Korea, at the Katunayake Airport, for winning 2 gold, 1 silver & 2 bronze medals at this meet while they finished 7th among 45 countries.
