- President Ranil Wickremesinghe strongly condemns the burning of the Holy Quran in Sweden; urges Western nations to uphold the value system of the Global South and refrain from allowing disturbances under the pretext of freedom of expression.
- President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake says President Wickremesinghe’s goal is not to pass the task of reconciliation in Sri Lanka to the next generation, but to solve it now: adds there is a strong need to resolve the issues related to the reconciliation process, and that if this effort is successful, there will be no need for the country to go to the UNHRC in Geneva for another year.
- Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe says the government has spent Rs. 144 billion on welfare benefits last year; adds as per the agreements with the IMF and WB Sri Lanka had agreed to spend a minimum of Rs. 187 billion annually on welfare benefits: asserts the government expects to spend Rs. 206 billion annually on ‘Aswesuma’ programme.
- Ven. Rajangane Saddharathana Thera who was arrested on the allegation of making comments harming religious co-existence granted bail: The Colombo Fort Magistrate imposes a bail condition preventing the Thera from making any statements using foul language.
- The IMF says it did not hold any discussion on a digital services tax with the authorities of Sri Lanka, or whether the country should sign on to a OECD/G20 inclusive framework for international corporate tax: A parliament panel had recently discussed a digital services tax, claiming that internet companies are not paying tax.
- Tamil political leaders slam SLPP MP Sarath Weerasekara for abusing parliamentary privileges and pressuring the judiciary by denouncing the race of a judge: warn Weerasekara is trying to stir up racist feelings among the Sinhalese by saying that a Tamil judge will intervene in the case related to the controversial Kurundi temple built at the Kurunthurmale archaeological site: Human rights activists, BASL, Mullaitivu Bar Association also stand against the ex Public Security Minister.
- Fitch Ratings revises the Outlook on CEB’s National Long-Term Rating to Positive, from Stable, and simultaneously affirms the rating at ‘B(lka)’: adds the National Long-Term Rating of CEB’s outstanding senior unsecured debentures at ‘B(lka)’: asserts the positive outlook reflects the likely upgrade of the Sri Lankan sovereign’s Long-Term Local-Currency IDR to reflect the sovereign’s prospects following the completion of a DDE.
- LKR once again indicates depreciation against the USD at leading commercial banks: Peoples Bank – buying price rises to Rs. 305.58 from Rs. 304.61, and selling price to Rs. 320.61 from Rs. 319.59; Commercial Bank – buying price to Rs. 305.83 from Rs. 304.61, and selling price to Rs. 319 from Rs. 317; Sampath Bank – buying price to Rs. 305 from Rs. 302, and selling price to Rs. 320 from Rs. 317.
- Consultant Paediatrician at the LRH Dr. Deepal Perera divulges a measles outbreak has been identified at the hospital, with four confirmed cases; adds as of Monday (10), 12 children have displayed symptoms of measles, with four cases officially diagnosed: symptoms encompass high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and a characteristic rash known as the Measles rash; laments some children had not received the MMR vaccine for measles.
- Maheesh Theekshana and Pathum Nissanka make big gains in the ICC’s ODI player rankings, after making significant contributions to the team’s unbeaten run at the Cricket World Cup Qualifier: Theekshana, who finished as the second-highest wicket-taker, one dismissal behind teammate Wanindu Hasaranga, rose 13 spots in the rankings for bowlers to 19th: Nissanka, the second leading run-scorer, rose nine places from 38 to 29, overtaking Charith Asalanka as the highest-ranked Sri Lankan batsman: Hasaranga meanwhile rose one place to eighth in the ranking for all-rounders.
