- An ADB official says SL will get about USD 600 mn on a “staggered basis” from the Asian Development Bank after the IMF releases the 2nd tranche of it’s USD 2.9 bn bailout of SL: ADB has been one of the multi-lateral financing institutions that has not been affected by SL’s controversial debt default of 12th April’22.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to be mulling prorogation of Parliament in January’24: once Parliament is prorogued, pending business before the House will lapse, and the new Parliament, once convened by the President, has to resume afresh: the President can prorogue Parliament for a maximum of 2 months.
- SLPP Rebel MP Prof. Charitha Herath expresses concern about an impending Constitutional crisis in the country.
- Six priceless Kandyan treasures including a golden & silver kasthãné (ceremonial swords), two maha thuwakku (wall guns), and Lewke Disave’s cannon, which were looted by the Dutch in 1765, placed on public display at the Colombo National Museum
- Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe reveals plans to introduce a new legislative framework to oversee operations of micro-finance institutions: emphasises the need to establish an independent regulatory institution, separate from the Central Bank, with a specific focus on overseeing and effectively regulating micro-finance entities.
- Sri Lanka ranked among the top 5 fastest growing tourism destinations for 2024 by the world-renowned travel guide, the “Travel Off Path”.
- SL Air Force receives two Harbin Y-12-IV twin-engine turboprop utility aircrafts from China: Harbin Y-12 or Yunshuji-12 is a light multi role aircraft designed & developed by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corp of China, and principally used for passenger & cargo transportation.
- Budget Deficit for the first 9 months of 2023 widens to an astronomical Rs.1,614 bn from Rs.1,244 bn last year: Tax revenue up by over 50% to Rs.1,934 bn amid significant upward revisions to tax rates & introduction of new taxes: however, expenditure also up by a massive 38.5% to Rs.3,732 bn with recurrent expenditure surging 44.7% to Rs.3,328 bn.
- Number of Dengue cases recorded in the first 11 months of 2023 reaches the highest infection levels in the past 3 years: cases reported for the years 2020, 2021 & 2022 were 31139, 35054 & 76467: however, by 5th December’23, 78,022 cases had been reported for this year: so far, 46 dengue-related deaths have also been reported.
- Dulanjan Fernando, 24, sets a new National record in the 3 metre Springboard diving event at the CAMO International Invitation Plongeon in Montreal, Canada: earns recognition from World Aquatics, making him the 3rd SL diver to achieve such global acclaim.
