- As per CB data, Govt Revenue in the first 5 months of 2023 compared to that of 2022, increases by 38% to Rs.1,120 bn from Rs.813 bn: however, Expenditure and Net Lending also increases by 47% to Rs. 2,130 bn in the first 5 months of 2023, from Rs.1,450 bn in 2022: accordingly, budget deficit in the first 5 months, increases by a staggering 59%, from Rs.637 bn to Rs.1,010 bn, notwithstanding massive increases in tax rates.
- Angry borrowers denounce aggression by commercial banks to execute “Parate action” while the borrowers are experiencing the worst continuous contraction in the economy: allege that “parate actions” by banks are being made public without proper prior notice and in some cases amidst negotiations for revised settlement plans: some newspapers carry 15 to 25 Parate action “advertisements” by banks daily.
- Tea Board Chairman Niraj de Mel reveals that Sri Lanka is hopeful of starting tea exports to Iran under the barter deal from this month onwards, with formalities to operationalise the arrangement reaching completion.
- Education Minister Susil Premajayantha says school term tests from Grade 1 and above will be conducted only once an year, commencing from 2024.
- Several high level public administration officials say the Govt will hold back some of the structural reforms agreed with the IMF under its economic reform programme, due to lack of political & public support: some Revenue administration reforms and expenditure rationalisation measures to compress the public sector wage bill and public pensions, are feared to create social unrest: sources also say the Govt will be compelled to hold back these reforms at a time of impending elections.
- The Ministry of Ports decides to reconstruct the Talaimannar pier to facilitate passengers from Rameswaram, India, in a bid to improve people-to-people ties with India, at a cost of Rs.1.8 bn: the Ministry also says nearly 10 acres of state-owned land bordering the pier will be acquired for the development of the relevant infrastructure.
- Consumer Affairs Authority raids a warehouse in Wattala, leading to the seizure of a large stock of rations and canned food valued at over Rs.500 mn, deemed unfit for human consumption.
- Public Utilities Commission rejects the CEB request for a fresh electricity tariff hike: the CEB had sought the tariff hike on the grounds that it is estimated to lose around Rs.33 bn by the end of this year owing to the tariff reduction approved by the PUC for the 2nd half of 2023.
- Top batter Kusal Janith Perera returns to the ODI side for the Asia Cricket Cup tournament, after more than 2 years: Angelo Mathews and Chamika Karunaratne left out: squad to include left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage.
- A team headed by the Chief of the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Unit, Alex Marshall arrives in Sri Lanka: expected to meet with officials of Sri Lanka Cricket in the coming days.
