- Political insiders say President Ranil Wickremasinghe has warned the SLPP leadership that he will be compelled to dissolve Parliament if the SLPP MPs do not give their cooperation to implement the Govt’s planned activities.
- Police spokesman says the 1,227 kg of cannabis seized from Embilipitiya where 3 suspects were arrested, is possibly the biggest haul of cannabis to be seized at a single instance in Sri Lanka.
- LKR appreciates again against the USD at a few commercial banks in Sri Lanka: CB announces LKR selling rate as Rs.315.13 per USD: analysts say the LKR’s wildly fluctuating behaviour is providing lucrative opportunities to “hot-money” investors who are making huge profits while the Govt is incurring the corresponding loss.
- Reuters News says the World Bank is likely to approve USD 700 mn in budgetary & welfare support for SL on June 28: if received, it will be the biggest funding tranche for the crisis-hit nation since the IMF deal in March: analysts point out that no other funds from bi-lateral or commercial creditors seem to be forthcoming.
- Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara says the ruling SLPP is happy to continue to support President Ranil Wickremesinghe despite differences: explains that jeopordising his administration would mean a return to queues: CB data shows that since 1st April 2022, the country has suffered 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 1Q of 2023.
- SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna says calling regular elections couldn’t be the prerogative of the President under any circumstances: also says the SLPP should be ashamed of its response to President Ranil Wickremesinghe putting off the LG polls indefinitely, as it is the still the party with the largest group in Parliament.
- Member of the Presidential Advisory Group on Debt Restructuring Dr. Sharmini Coorey says Sri Lanka should renegotiate past tax holidays given to corporates in order to get a much higher tax revenue while VAT exemptions too should also be removed: insists that when it comes to taxes, the rich Sri Lankans are not paying sufficient taxes and too many tax breaks have been given to corporates.
- Sri Lanka Banks Association (SLBA) urge policymakers to engage with commercial banks via the Central Bank to ensure a comprehensive and well-coordinated approach to alleviate the stress felt by the industrialists in loan default following the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis.
- Cricketing minnows Oman, coached by former Sri Lanka captain Duleep Mendis, pull off a massive upset by beating Ireland in their opening World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe: it is Oman’s 1st ever victory over a Test nation in an ODI: Ireland – 281/7 wickets (50): Oman 282/5 (49.1).
- Sri Lanka beat UAE by 175 runs in its 1st ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Qualifier: Wanindu Hasaranga takes a career best 6/24 runs: Sri Lanka – 355/6 (50) Kusal Mendis – 78, Sadeera Samarawickrama – 73: UAE – 180 all out (39): Hasaranga – 24/6.
