- Govt to seek Parliament approval to increase the borrowing limit by a further Rs.9,000 bn: the latest debt ceiling increase is said to enable the Govt to cover debt service payments, recurring expenses, and welfare expenses: the total debt of the Govt as at end-2022 was Rs.27,492 bn, while the total debt at end-2014 was only Rs.7,487 bn, indicating that the Govt had borrowed a staggering Rs.20,005 bn since end-2014.
- Finance Ministry sources say the divestment of SriLankan Airlines and its subsidiaries has been identified as a priority due to its “high fiscal risks”: its phase 1 restructuring process to be completed by end-2023: International Finance Corporation appointed as the “sell-side” transaction advisors.
- Former Investment Promotion Minister Rohitha Bogollagama who is now the HC designate to UK, says SL should set up a Special Economic Development Commission to fast track investments: also says it must be similar to the Investment Promotion Board in Singapore.
- Former Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa urges President Ranil Wickremesinghe to establish a Presidential Commission of Inquiry to probe the “international conspiracy” during the “Aragalaya” last year: in September 2022, former CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal also urged the President to initiate a Presidential Inquiry into the conspiracy surrounding the announcement of bankruptcy by the Govt on 12th April 2022.
- Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says he has requested India to add gas to a proposed oil pipeline to connect the two countries: request said to have been made, considering a “development plan for a tank farm in Trincomalee, expected refinery development, oil and gas exploration, connections to domestic LPG terminals that will target regional markets, and to enable energy requirement of the two countries”.
- Sri Lanka’s first artificial beach of a length of 3.5 km built within the Colombo Port City declared open for the free use of the general public: a food court with local and foreign food also opened in the vicinity.
- International Chamber of Commerce Chairman Shanil Fernando says the ICC will host the 3rd Arbitration Conference next month: speakers to include Justice Priyantha Jayawardena PC (Judge of the Supreme Court), Vikum de Abrew PC (Additional SG), Viveka Siriwardena PC (Additional SG), and Dr. Harsha Cabral PC (Former Member ICC Court of Arbitration).
- Transport and Highways Minister Bandula Gunawardena urges Govt to release Rs.20 bn for urgent repairs and maintenance of roads in view of the adverse condition of existing road networks: laments that the Cabinet had been informed about the requirement but the allocations had not been made so far.
- Fines for election-related offences to be drastically increased in terms of a proposed bill that has already been gazetted: fines for election-related offences are set to increase from about Rs.50,000 and Rs.400,000.
- Tharushi Karunarathna and Gayanthika Abeyrathna win Gold and Bronze medals respectively in the Women’s 800m at the Asian Athletics Championships 2023 in Thailand: SL wins the Silver medal in the Women’s 4x400m Relay event and the Gold medal in the Men’s 4x400m Relay event.
