- Leasing & Loan Repayment Members Association Chairman Asanka Pothupitiya says loan interest rates have risen from 8% to 18%, & leasing rates have risen from 12% to 34%: laments there is no pay increase for Govt or private sector employees & the prices of necessities are exorbitant: asks how people are going to pay their housing and leasing payments in such circumstances: meanwhile, according to media reports, approximately 8.5 mn people are listed in the Credit Information Bureau of Sri Lanka (CRIB) as being delinquent in their credit status.
- Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe reveals there are 1,104,458 cases being heard in courts throughout the country as at 30th Jun’23: says these cases are being heard by 429 judges: also says though the number of Justices in the Supreme Court & Appeal Court were increased under the 20th Amendment, the number of cases resolved hasn’t increased in comparison to the increase in Judges: adds the COVID pandemic & civil unrest last year also played a part in delaying cases.
- Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security Rear Admiral (retd.) Sarath Weerasekera says that over a year after the killing of 8 persons including SLPP MP Amarakeerthi Atukorale & his police bodyguard and destruction of approximately 150 private properties, the Govt is yet to conduct a proper inquiry into the incidents.
- The 13th Round of Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) negotiations between SL & India scheduled to be held from January 8 to 10, 2024, in India.
- Rebel SLPP MP Professor G L Peiris says the duty & responsibility of the Govt should not be to establish new universities and higher education institutions, but to improve the quality of the existing institutions.
- National Water Supply & Drainage Board says it is working on introducing a revisable water tariff formula, like the fuel price formula: asserts the Board needs electricity (which has risen in cost) & imported chemicals to treat water: further asserts that therefore that it is focusing on introducing a “water tariff formula” factoring those charges.
- Minister Bandula Gunawardena says SL is poised to receive approval from the IMF for the 2nd tranche of the USD 2.9 bn EFF next week: asserts the State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe believes funds can be transferred on 12th Dec’23.
- Residents of Thirappane claim the wild elephant, popularly known as “Agbo”, has started roaming around their villages again due to its habituation: also say this has become a serious risk to the elephant: previously, the elephant sustained gunshot injuries & recovered after being treated by Wildlife Dept’s veterinarians.
- National Dangerous Drugs Control Board says there is an increase in drugs being sent to SL by post from overseas: asserts anti-narcotics officers have been deployed to the postal service who are working on cracking down on these drug parcels.
- SL Taekwondo Federation to conduct an International Taekwondo Championship in Colombo, commencing today: competitors from 8 South Asian countries & several Asian countries expected to participate.
