- Informed sources say President Ranil Wickramasinghe has warned that he will dissolve Parliament & hold a General election if the Govt does not receive the support of the “Pohottuwa” to continue: also says he will not allow peoples’ money to be wasted by increasing the number of ministers at a time when the people are in dire straits.
- Lord Hugo Swire of UK’s Conservative Party says countries like China have got opportunities to provide financial aid to countries like Sri Lanka, because of UK cutting its foreign aid budget: also says the Chinese cannot be blamed because they are ready to spend money when the UK is not.
- Export Development Board says SL’s merchandise exports have plunged by 11.88% to USD 951mn in September’23 compared to September’22: it is also a 14.94% decrease when compared to the value in August’23.
- Cabinet approves visa-free entry to travellers from 7 key tourist-generating markets of India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, & Thailand with immediate effect: this policy to be in effect till 31 March’24.
- State Minister for Primary Industries Chamara Dasanayake says about 1 mn barrels of ethanol is piled up as Alcohol firms are not buying ethanol: also says this has led to state-run Pelwatte & Sevenagala sugar firms to bury ethanol: laments the cost of production of a bottle of arrack is Rs.1,200, but has to be sold at Rs.3,200 due to the exorbitant taxes: insists economic experts are advocating high taxes and people are driven to “moonshine” (kasippu) as a result.
- Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security recommends that US Ambassador Julie Chung be urged to refrain from making statements regarding the internal affairs of SL in the future: Chairman Rear Admiral Weerasekera questions the Ambassador’s understanding of whether actions such as burning tires, blocking highways & railway lines, destroying petrol stations, slashing tires of oil bowsers, & throwing stones at the Police constitute a “protest or peaceful acts”: asserts the Ambassador is sending a highly unfavorable message about SL to the rest of the world.
- Minister Jeevan Thondaman says there are no plans to further increase the water tariff after the increase in August’23: but says the Ministry is now “working on implementing a water tariff formula set to roll out in Jan 2024”.
- Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board to complete the compensation payments for crop damages during the Yala cultivation season by early next month.
- Pradeep Somasiri wins the Gold medal in the Men’s 1500 metres – (T-46) event with a new Games record, and Nuwan Indika wins the Gold medal in the Men’s 100 metres – (T44) event at the Asian Para Games 2023.
- Angelo Mathews will replace injured Matheesha Pathirana in the SL squad at the ICC World Cup – 2023 being played in India.
