- Acting Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe says the process of domestic debt optimization is not finalized yet: also says the govt has made progress in engaging with its bilateral creditors on debt restructuring efforts: previously, CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe had repeatedly insisted that there would be no domestic debt restructuring.
- Former CB Governor and State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal says the Real Economy has been severely affected from 2Q2022 onwards after the reckless debt default, the unprecedented policy interest rate increase, and by allowing the LKR to depreciate beyond Rs.299 per USD: CB data shows that massive economic
contractions of 8.4%, 11.8% and 12.4% in 2Q, 3Q, and 4Q of 2022, and a contraction of 11.5% in 1Q2023 have occurred. - LKR crashes by a massive Rs.21.72 or 7.3% in just over 1 week from Rs.297.94 on 06.06.2023 to Rs.319.66 by 16.06.2023: as predicted by several analysts, this currency depreciation triggers the expected exodus of “hot-money” from T-Bill & Bond investments, which record a decrease of around USD 28.9 mn (or 4.5%) in the same week.
- President Ranil Wickremasinghe to participate in the Global Leaders’ Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris on June 22 & 23: President accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes his Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake: summit to focus on multiple crises such as climate change, bio-diversity loss, ongoing impacts of COVID-19, etc.
- Police begin probes on the mysterious deaths of 2 undergraduates from the North who had been found hanging in their respective hostels at 2 different universities.
- National Child Protection Authority to seek Cabinet approval to amend the Penal Code in relation to cruelty towards children.
- The Epidemiology Unit states a total of 45,606 Dengue cases have been reported so far in 2023: highest number of 10,111 from Gampaha district: 67 high-risk MOH areas identified: 27 fatalities reported since January 2023.
- Transport Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardana says a bus transport service without conductors will be introduced from July 1st: with the new mechanism, SLTB expects to end the pilfering of revenue by conductors: pilot project will be to run SLTB buses on all expressways without conductors from July 1st.
- Minister of Energy Kanchana Wijesekara says there is no shortage of Petrol 95 stocks or any other petroleum products with CPC & LIOC: insists that adequate stocks are available with fuel stations and all orders placed will be distributed: asserts the next cargo of 9,000 MT of Petrol 95 is due to arrive on June 22.
- Indian submarine ‘Vagir’ which is of the latest indigenous Kalvari-class, to undertake an operational visit at Colombo from 19-22 June 2023: the submarine visit is to commemorate the 9th “International Day of Yoga” under the theme of ‘Global Ocean Ring’ which is a unique initiative of performing Yoga on selected ports across the world.
