- Asian Development Bank approves a USD 350mn loan to SL to provide “budget support for economic stabilization”: accordingly, the bulk of these funds would be utilised to pay govt servants salaries & pensions and interest, and not to fund any revenue-generating capital project.
- Bangladesh Bank says SL has paid back another USD 100mn of the USD 200mn it borrowed 2 years ago, thereby increasing the total repayments to USD 150mn: expresses hope the balance will be repaid by September: previously, SL had announced that a part of the credit line from India had also been “settled” immediately after receiving the 1st trance from IMF: analysts say these “settlements-in-full” to selected bilateral creditors is likely to have an impact on the overall debt restructuring effort of the Govt.
- Defence Minister of India Rajnath Singh’s visit to SL scheduled for 2 & 3 September, deferred: the purpose of the visit was earlier announced as “to review bilateral defence ties”: India had previously raised security concerns with the SL govt over the Chinese ship ShiYan 6’s planned docking at the ports of SL from 26 October.
- Indian Naval Ship “Delhi” docks at the Colombo port and welcomed by the SL Navy: the vessel is a 163-metre long Destroyer manned by a crew of 450 and commanded by Captain Abhishek Kumar.
- An organisation called “The Civil Society Collective for Democracy” says recent statements from the President, Speaker & some MPs who are attempting to undermine judicial independence are “deeply troubling”: also says the recent acts of intimidation targeting members of the Election Commission and Public Utilities Commission are examples of the disabling environment: asserts the citizens’ sovereign right to vote has been infringed by using financial constraints as an excuse.
- A collective of 80 Trade Unions write to the IMF to express their concerns about the ongoing Domestic Debt Restructuring process affecting the most vulnerable and marginalised citizens of the country: also say the people are now feeling the brunt of the IMF’s agreement with the Govt.
- The core objectives of the visit of US Senator Chris Van Hollen (Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Appropriations Subcommittee on State & Foreign Operations) is reported as being to promote “enhanced security cooperation, deepening economic ties, collaborative initiatives to address climate change, and the advancement of democracy & human rights”.
- Central Bank’s “money printing” increases by Rs.33 bn this week to fund the significant shortfall in the subscription for the week’s Treasury Bills issue: analysts point out the Central Bank will be precluded from doing so after the Speaker confirms the passage of the new Central Bank Act which has already been passed by Parliament.
- IGP C D Wickramaratne says steps will be taken to resolve concerns regarding traffic offences being video recorded by the traffic police and then released to the media: the IGP was responding to concerns raised by the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Public Security surrounding the ethicality of the release of such videos to the media.
- Sri Lanka’s victory over Bangladesh in their tournament opener in the ongoing Asia Cup, marks the record for their longest winning streak of 11 consecutive victories in one-day internationals: this winning streak is due to their prowess in bowling, as they have dismissed their opponents for the 11th successive game.
