- President Ranil Wickremesinghe announces in Parliament that both Presidential and Parliamentary Elections will be held next year.
- Foreign Minister M U M Ali Sabry says no one would come into politics if those who had been found fault for lapses on their part in respect of “policy decisions” were dealt with in terms of criminal liability: reiterates the fallout should be solely political: adds that in the FR case involving the former Presidents and others, the ruling doesn’t say there had been any fraud or money robbed or that funds had been sent overseas and consequently measures should put in place to recover such money: also says the SC has only faulted the Respondents for a “failure to take timely action to avert the crisis”.
- Supreme Court, in 7-Judge ruling holds that properties mortgaged to a bank not only by an actual borrower but also by a third-party for a loan granted to the actual borrower, can be sold at an auction to recover the unpaid loan & interest thereon: overturns a previous 4-judge Bench ruling.
- Shippers Council Chairman Sean Van Dort says corruption & bribes facilitation in the local shipping industry is rampant and urgent steps are needed to stop it: also says this was almost zero during the Covid pandemic because there were no “face to face” transactions at that time.
- Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera requests the Wildlife and Forestry Director General to grant permission to those engaged in the Kitul tapping industry to tap trees in the wildlife and forest conservation areas.
- SJB “Economic Guru” Harsha de Silva dismisses Justice Minister Dr Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s claim that over USD 56bn had been “parked” overseas by exporters: also contradicts claims by rebel SLPP MPs Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Wimal Weerawansa & Gevindu Cumaratunga on the matter: the controversial Foreign Exchange Management Act which enabled the retention of such Forex abroad by exporters, was passed by the Yahapalanaya Govt in which Silva was a Minister, in 2016.
- Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda says the issue of poaching by Indian fishermen in the SL waters off the Northern Coast has become a significant concern for which a diplomatic approach must be taken to find a lasting solution.
- SL Athletic team achieves remarkable success at the Asian Masters’ Athletic Championships in New Clark City, Philippines: secure a total of 84 medals (25 gold, 34 silver, & 25 bronze).
- SL Women’s Cricket Captain Chamari Athapaththu signs up with “Northern Brave” for the 2023-24 Women’s Super Smash competition: presently, Athapaththu is playing in the WBBL for “Sydney Thunder” & is the 2nd-highest run-scorer in the tournament, with 451 runs from 12 innings at an average of 45.10 & a strike rate of 134.62.
- ICC shifts the Under-19 World Cricket Cup which was to be staged in Colombo, to South Africa: cricket analysts say the 16-Nation tournament would have boosted cricketing infrastructure, allowed fans to have a first-hand experience of seeing the sport’s future stars, and enabled the SL players to play in home conditions.
