- Annual Report 2023 of Advocata in conjunction with Canada’s Fraser Institute places SL at the 116th rank out of 165 countries in the Economic Freedom Index: the placing represents a decline from the 104th rank in 2020.
- Colombo University’s Dean of the Dept of Economics & (reportedly) new Member of the Central Bank’s Governing Board Dr Priyanga Dunusinghe says there is no use talking about 2048 if the authorities can’t even make realistic predictions about matters such as GDP & Tax revenues for the next 6 months: urges the authorities to prepare more accurate estimates in the future.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe sternly admonishes an interviewer of Deutsche Welle TV, Germany: insists the Govt will not carry out an “International inquiry” on any issue including the Easter Sunday attacks: also says his Govt rejects the report of the UN Human Rights Commission.
- Top Opposition Spokesperson & former Foreign Minister Professor G L Peiris says the Govt must take full responsibility for the suspension of the USD 2.9 bn IMF bailout because of its failure to achieve the anticipated revenue: blames the Govt for granting tax concessions to investors and failing to collect taxes, in spite of reaching an agreement with the IMF in that regard.
- Cabinet approves proposal to construct 1,996 housing units in the Western Province for people residing in low-facility housing, using a grant of CNY 552 mn (USD 77 mn) from the Chinese Govt.
- SL welcomes 111,938 tourists in September’23, but misses the target of 120,201: marks the lowest arrivals figure since June’23 though the cumulative arrivals crossed 1 mn tourists for the 1st time in 3 years.
- Reports say SL’s major creditors, Japan (with a 24% share), India (15%) & France (4%) are likely to reach a broad agreement this month on debt reduction steps including extending repayments: China, the largest single creditor accounting for 42% of SL’s overall external debt, is yet to agree.
- US Govt files a statement of interest in the New York Federal Court, backing the SL Govt’s request to delay a lawsuit by Hamilton Reserve Bank, which is seeking payment on more than USD 250 mn in sovereign bonds that fell due in July’22: says the delay would help on-going restructuring talks between SL & other creditors: previously, the French & UK Govts had also asked the Court to put the case on hold, saying that delaying the case was “key to ensuring the success of the IMF-supported assistance program” for SL: HRB has opposed the bid to postpone the case, saying that putting the case on hold “would be both contrary to US policy interests and an exercise in futility.”
- Chairman of Litro Gas Muditha Peiris says the new increased prices of Gas will be announced very soon:
Litro Gas previously increased its prices on the 4September’23. - Former SL Cricket Captain Kumar Sangakkara has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Cricket Committee.
