- President Ranil Wickremesinghe says he believes that the Tourism Industry would significantly contribute to the country’s forex earnings in the coming decade; asserts comprehensive plans had already been formulated to enhance Sri Lanka’s appeal as a tourist destination; stresses promoting tourism could lead to an increase in per capita income.
- President’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake says measures will be taken to swiftly address challenges in Health Sector; instructs the officials to thoroughly probe the accuracy of media reports concerning the crisis; asserts if any allegations are found to be true, immediate intervention and relief measures will be taken to assist the affected individuals.
- Livestock Development State Minister D.B. Herath says the government has implemented a specific programme to promote liquid milk production in the country: asserts people are interested in the production and consumption of liquid milk; adds supporting the liquid milk business makes it feasible to boost the dairy farmer’s economics and satisfy the country’s need for protein.
- India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra is to arrive in Colombo early next week to work out arrangements for Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to New Delhi on July 20 this year.
- The Colombo Fort Magistrate lifts the travel ban imposed on SDIG in charge of the Western Province Deshabandu Tennakoon in connection with the assault on peaceful protesters at the ‘Aragalaya’ agitation site in Galleface in May last year.
- The Exam Dept says applications for the 2023 GCE AL Exams will be accepted online from July 07 – 28: Candidates can submit applications via the dept’s official online portals (www.doenets.lk and www.onlineexams.gov.lk/eic) or the mobile app ‘DoE’.
- Secretary of the ‘Ceylon Teachers Union’ and JVP member Mahinda Jayasinghe divulges there is a group of government officials who are engaged in fraud and corruption in the National Institute of Education and are being backed by close political ties of the government; laments the Secretary to the Education Ministry has been informed about the scenario, but no positive outcome has ever come.
- CB data reveal workers’ remittances in June ’23 recorded US $475.7 million: The cumulative figure for the 1H23 stands at US $ 2,822.6 million, which is an increase of 75.3% from the corresponding period of the previous year.
- The Government Radiology Technologists’ Association reveals the linear accelerator machine which provides radiotherapy to young children at the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital has been out of order for two weeks; adds this is mainly because the annual service contract for the said machines was not entered by, as they are unable to pay; warns the lives of 10 – 15 children who had been receiving radiotherapy for cancer are in danger.
- Openers Pathum Nissanka (104) and Dimuth Karunaratne (83) put on a remarkable 190 run stand while mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana had 4 for 34 as SL records an easy 08 wicket win over West Indies in their last super six Cricket fixture of the World Cup Qualifier tournament played at Harare: With this one sided game SL being the only unbeaten team of the tournament will be brimming with confidence when they meet Netherlands in the final tomorrow.
