- Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickramanayaka, stated that new legislation will be enacted to combat all actions that jeopardize religious unity: Reiterates that under the guise of freedom of speech or religion, no one has the right to offend any religion.
- FitchRatings has downgraded Sri Lanka’s Long-Term Local-Currency (LTLC) Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘C’ from ‘CC’. The issue ratings on local-currency bonds have also been downgraded to ‘C’ from ‘CC’.
- Power and Energy Minister says proposals received from Russia, US, India, and European countries Says CEB’s 2023-2042 generation does not include nuclear power. Dismisses claims of a deal with Russian nuclear giant Rosatom, emphasising the need to determine the appropriate technology for the country and pre-plan various factors.
- Daily air flights between Jaffna, Sri Lanka and Chennai, India will commence from July 16, 2023, Alliance Air announced.
- Talia Peiris, a talented and passionate Sri Lankan-American teenager, has been crowned Miss California Teen USA 2023. The young beauty queen, with her remarkable poise and dedication, has become the first-ever Sri Lankan-American to claim the prestigious title.
- Sri Lanka’s cinema industry is furious over the National Film Corporation’s (NFC) move to shut out the private sector by going back on the industry’s partial liberalisation and taking up a larger role in distributing films. Cinema owners and private sector importers and distributors warned that the move would be disastrous and put millions of investments made since 2001’s partial deregulation, and those planned for the future, at risk
- The cement manufacturers have reached an agreement with the government to set a maximum retail price for a 50 kilogram bag of cement, announced Trade Minister Nalin Fernando. The maximum retail price of a 50 kg bag of cement will be Rs. 2,300.
- The Second Reading of the proposed Anti-Corruption Bill was passed in Parliament yesterday without a vote and subjected to subsequent amendments. Accordingly, the Committee Stage to introduce amendments to the Act is scheduled to be held on July 19.
- Diyawadana Nilame of Sri Dalada Maligawa Pradeep Nilanga Dela says that false news have been circulated on social media by some stating that Tusker Thai Raja donated by Thailand to the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy and presently housed at the Suduhumpola Temple has gone missing. Adds that he is totally against spreading false rumours as a mudslinging campaign internationally by certain NGOs without knowing true facts and presently the number of tame Tuskers and elephants living in Sri Lanka are less than 100.
- The fifth edition of the men’s Emerging Asia Cup will be played in Sri Lanka from July 13-July 23. Eight Asian teams will feature in the tournament, with seven of them being ‘A’ teams of their respective countries. The eight teams are divided into two groups of four each. India are placed in Group A alongside Nepal, UAE A, and Pakistan A.
