- GDP expands by 1.6% in the 3rd Quarter of 2023, on the back of the massive contraction of 11.8% in the 3rd Quarter of 2022: massive job and livelihood losses continue unabated.
- UNDP study shows SL among the top 5 “most un-equal countries” in Asia Pacific: study also reveals the top 1% owns 31% of total personal wealth, while the bottom 50% owns less than 4%: UN’s Food & Agriculture Organisation says nearly one-third of SL’s 22 mn population is “food insecure”: also says 66,022 families in Colombo live in 1,506 shanty dwellings, without proper sanitary facilities: further says most workers in the tea & rubber estates do not receive even Rs.1000 a day.
- Professor of Economics at the Paradeniya University Wasantha Athukorala says a study carried out by the University shows a 3-fold increase in poverty over the past 3 years: in 2019, nearly 3 mn people lived below the poverty line, but had increased to 9.6 mn by Oct’22: adds that 42% of people are currently living in poverty.
- SLPP led by the Rajapaksa family vows to secure victory in all upcoming elections & return to power, forming a stronger Govt to rebuild Sri Lanka: holds its 2nd National Convention at which former President and MP Mahinda Rajapaksa was re-elected as its Leader.
- Opposition SJB MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka says it’s not possible to change Govts by carrying out struggles: asserts he is ready to accept an invitation from the people to run for the upcoming Presidential Election.
- State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe says work on over 200 foreign funded development projects, halted midway, will recommence in 1st Quarter of 2024: analysts say that since the “default announcement” on 12th April’22, SL is in arrears of over USD 6,000 mn to Bilateral and Private Creditors, and hence it’s very unlikely that any further bilateral project loans would be forthcoming next year.
- Supreme Court holds that the former IGP Chandana Wickremaratne had violated the Fundamental Rights of the former OIC of Thelikada Police station in the Galle District by unreasonably transferring him to the Tangalle Police Division at the behest of persons involved in alleged illegal activities in Gin Ganga and forests in Thelikada.
- Authorized mobile phone importers express deep concern over the Govt’s decision to remove mobile phones from the VAT exemptions list, leading to the VAT of 18% being imposed on their products from 1st Jan’24: lament that the dual impact will pose substantial challenges for the industry.
- Cabinet approves the appointment of an authorised agent for online submissions of visas from those seeking Sri Lankan visas.
- Prasad Silva and Bimandee Bandara named as the Top seeds of the Men’s Open and Women’s Open singles at the National Table Tennis Championship to be played this weekend, in Kandy.
