- President Ranil Wickremesinghe to convene an All-Party meeting on Wednesday at the President’s House: The meeting is expected to address a number of matters of importance, including the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and initiatives to be implemented for the promotion of national harmony.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe instructs officials to expedite the Anuradhapura Sacred Site Development Plan, giving priority to the Maha Viharaya Development Plan; adds a Committee consisting of a team of experts from the National Physical Planning Department, the Department of Archaeology, and Universities will be appointed to implement the Maha Viharaya Development Plan.
- The Auditor General’s Department launches a special probe into the use of substandard medicines, following reports on a number of incidents in the Health Sector surrounding controversy: Auditor General W.P.C. Wickramaratne says previous investigations on the NMRA and the Health Ministry revealed significant information about the use of substandard and unregistered drugs; asserts the Parliament Committee on Public Business also discussed the matter; adds a separate probe into the computer system related to the purchase and distribution of medicines will also be conducted.
- The new circular issued by the Health Secretary censoring health officials from providing information to the media without prior consent of the department heads meets with immediate backlash: Health professionals allege the circular is against the freedom of speech and expression of health workers; reveal the communique in question fails to mention the provisions of the Establishment Code which concern the representatives of trade unions or health professionals’ associations; urge Health Secretary to provide an explanation and revoke it immediately.
- Power and Energy State Minister D.V. Chanaka says the first fuel shipment of China’s Sinopec, which signed a contract to enter the Sri Lankan fuel market, will arrive in the country early next month; asserts steps will be taken to replace the fuel price formula with a maximum retail price, thereby creating a fuel competitiveness that benefits the country; assures a MRP will be stipulated to all fuel companies under the price formula from August.
- Trade Minister Nalin Fernando says the two leading LP Gas companies must comply a price formula and sell gas at the same prices; warns any attempt to violate this requirement will be met with legal action; laments private vendor LAUGFS had not taken any steps to slash its gas prices subsequent to its state-run competitor LITRO.
- The SYU together civil movements organises a protest and a cultural concert in remembrance of a number of events in the history of Sri Lanka that affected national unity, including the 1983 “Black July”: The event was led by SYU member Eranga Gunasekara and JVP former MP Bimal Rathnayake: Police fire water cannons to disperse the protest.
- Several train trips scheduled for yesterday and today have been cancelled owing to the strike action launched by the Railway Engine Drivers’ Association concerning an issue related to the duty rosters of engine drivers.
- Immigration/Emigration Dept laments a number of incapacities are evident in accessing the new online system established for obtaining passports: Failure to properly place the fingerprints, non-submission of adequate bio data, and failure to comply with the procedure in submitting the relevant documents online the most frequent; urges the public to contact the Dept itself or the nearest Divisional Secretariat to resolve any problems pertaining to the submission of applications and follow the correct procedure.
- Minister Bandula Gunawardena says whatever the government in power in the country, Sri Lanka is legally bound to settle foreign debts at maturity till 2048; adds SL has to repay foreign debt of US$ 36 billion and only 37% of them mature within the next five years; asserts 51% of the total foreign debt matures in 6-20 years and the rest 12% after 20 years.
