Sri Lanka Original Narrative Summary: 23/12

Date:

  1. Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe says bonuses to employees at Commercial Corporations, Statutory Boards & Govt owned companies may be paid only if the Govt entity has paid 30% of it’s profit after tax from the previous year to the consolidated fund.
  2. President Ranil Wickremesinghe appoints 10 Ministry Secretaries & 2 Chief Secretaries: the appointments to be effective from 1st Jan’24.
  3. President, National Trade Protection Council Mahendra Perera says the plight of 89% of the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises is worsening following stringent legal action taken by banks to recover their loans: also says 1,183 SME assets had been taken over by banks and auctioned, under parate execution during the past 11 months.
  4. Doyen of Sinhala Journalism & Editor of Daily Lankadeepa for 33 years, Siri Ranasinghe felicitated by his friends, well-wishers and colleagues.
  5. ITAK MP Govindan Karunakaran says President Ranil Wickremesinghe has promised the Tamil politicians to table the Truth and Reconciliation Bill to Parliament “to bring a long-term solution for the historical ethnic issues”.
  6. SJB’s MP & “Economic Guru” Harsha de Silva says at least 18% of GDP should be collected as taxes, as opposed to the current 13%: laments SL’s expected taxes is only Rs.4,100bn & should be at least Rs.5,700bn: asserts it has to be increased by another 5% “to be comfortable”: Silva has been a strong advocate of an IMF programme, debt re-structuring after default, high interest rates, sale of SOEs, & a floating Rupee.
  7. SL Telecom Trade unions demand a bonus amidst current financial challenges: their action impacts operations & clients of SLT: the Unions also want recent Govt nominees on the Board to be removed and the sale of the Treasury stake suspended.
  8. Tea production in Nov’23 falls by 3.82% to 19,586,188kg from 20,364,487kg in Nov’22.
  9. State Drama Advisory Council Chairman & veteran artist Parakrama Niriella makes dramatic exit from the Council: accuses Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayaka of interfering with the Council’s decisions.
  10. Mumbai Indians Global Head of Cricket & SL Consultant Coach Mahela Jayawardene expresses satisfaction in securing Dilshan Madhushanka into the IPL Mumbai Indians’ team.

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