- Official Creditor Committee announces agreement with the SL Govt on main parameters of a debt treatment consistent with the IMF programme: says it will lead to the approval of the 2nd disbursement by IMF: expects SL authorities to continue engagement with private creditors to reach agreement on terms as favourable as their terms: also expects the agreement to be formalized with a MOU in the coming weeks: further expects “other” bilateral creditors to consent to sharing information for the OCC to evaluate “comparability of treatment”: agreement to cover approx USD 5.9 bn of debt & said to be of a mix of “long-term maturity extension” & “reduction in interest rates”: analysts note that the much awaited “hair-cut” as expected by the Govt & IMF doesn’t seem to have been achieved.
- SLPP rebel MP Dr Nalaka Godahewa says the President’s plan to break a part of the Opposition with this Budget, has failed: akins SL to a debtor who hides until the Police catch him for not paying back the debt to the creditors: warns SL is on top of a volcano and that this crisis is going to explode in a terrifying way.
- Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon appointed as the Acting IGP: Tennakoon says that plans will be implemented to crackdown on drugs & organised crime, whilst giving priority to national security.
- Netherlands Embassy formally hands over 6 SL artefacts, including the Lewke cannon plundered from SL over 200 years ago: artefacts accepted by Minister Vidura Wickremanayake: items to be on public display at the Colombo National Museum from 5th December’23 onwards.
- Immigration Department says self-styled Prophet cum Pastor Jerome Fernando arrived in SL: the Pastor is scheduled to give a statement to the CID within 48 hours of arrival, as per a Court order.
- Former Head of the Human Rights Commission Professor Deepika Udagama says no country could be described as democratic if there is no “separation of powers” that ensures one branch of Govt does not exceed its powers: asserts that the three branches of Govt, i.e., the Executive, Legislature & Judiciary must keep an eye on each other so that there is a “balance”.
- SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna says the SJB is proposing that the Govt holds the upcoming Presidential & Parliamentary Elections on the same day in order to reduce the related expenditure: asserts the SJB is ready to support any new legislation for that purpose.
- Several civil society organisations, including the Electricity Consumers’ Association to organise a protest in front of the Ministry of Power and Energy, urging the Govt to lower electricity tariffs & fuel prices.
- Standard Chartered Bank CEO Bingumal Thewarathanthri says there must be a “bankruptcy court” in the country to address debt repayment challenges faced by individuals and businesses.
- SL Cricket says they will host the Indian team for a bi-lateral series in July’24, consisting of 3 ODI’s & 3 T20Is.
