- Deputy Speaker says the Supreme Court has determined that the Online Safety Bill with certain Committee stage amendments will not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution, and can be passed by a simple majority of Parliament.
- State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says the Govt would establish an independent authority to regulate microfinance institutions: also says about 11,000 microfinance institutions operate but only 5 are registered: further says about 3 mn persons had obtained loans from microfinance institutions at effective annual interest rates ranging from 40% to 200%.
- JVP MP Vijitha Herath says there can’t be any justification in questioning the JVP’s right to meet US Ambassador Julie Chung: affirms the Party had meetings with Ambassador Chung before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ouster.
- Govt Medical Officers’ Assn Spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe expresses displeasure that salaries of SL Cricket officials & players are exempt from income tax: says the Govt had previously claimed that no one was exempt from income tax.
- A 5-Judge Supreme Court Bench stays Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar Order releasing 10 accused who had been indicted over the Central Bank BondScam: also issues an Interim Order preventing the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar from hearing the case: issues another Order staying the Court of Appeal from hearing a case on the matter, as well.
- Past Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce & Businessman Vish Govindasamy appointed to the newly set up “Governing Board” of the Central Bank: Govindasamy is a strong advocate of a stringent IMF programme, higher taxes, flexible currency, tight monetary policy, SOE reforms, & default of Sri Lanka’s International Sovereign Bonds.
- Shereen Wijerathne, the sister-in-law of former controversial business tycoon Lalith Kotelawala informs the Colombo Additional Magistrate that the business tycoon was held hostage by a group in a dark room in the latter part of his life & that his death may have been deliberate: asserts she was one of the few who stood with Kotelawala after his fall from grace following the Golden Key debacle.
- SL Cricket Selectors reject criticism levelled against them by Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe in relation to the selection of the World Cup team: assert that the team’s performance during their 2 1⁄2 year tenure has been very successful, compared to the period before: also assert that the team they picked was “balanced”.
- Court of Appeal issues an Interim Order staying the Gazette Notification issued by the Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, by which an Interim Committee headed by former Cricketer Arjuna Ranatunge and 6 others were appointed: the Stay Order to be effective for 14 days.
- Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe says President Ranil Wickremesinghe has ordered him to withdraw the newly appointed Interim Committee of SL Cricket: also says the President told him that he (the President) will take the Sports Law under the control of the President if that is not done: Ranasinghe further says he had responded he will not suspend the Interim Committee under any circumstances as the level of corruption in Cricket Administration is now “unbelievable”.
