- SL commemorates the 19th anniversary of the terrible Tsunami that occured on 26th December 2004, with 2 minutes silence across the country from 9.25am to 9.27am: more than 40,000 persons are estimated to have lost their lives on that day in Sri Lanka.
- Former Peradeniya University Professor Desmond Mallikarachchi says the IMF is one of the global loan sharks of international finance, the other being the World Bank: laments 95% of Sri Lankan MP’s are ignorant about what the IMF is & think it is a “sympathetic benefactor of poor countries”, although it is actually a “predator”: asserts there is no country that has taken loans from the IMF that has achieved any development & a number of countries are consequently in a ‘zombie’ state.
- Road Development Authority Director General L V S Weerakoon says the RDA has recorded a more than 40% revenue increase from users of expressways since 22nd Dec’23: Rs.46,457,600 collected from 140,791 total exits between 22 & 23 December.
- State Minister of Women & Child Affairs Geetha Kumarasinghe says the Ministry will present a proposal to the concerned parties to set aside one day per week for the hearing of cases related to females & children in every court: asserts a large number of cases relating to incidents involving females & children such as domestic violence, sexual abuse & child abuse, are pending before courts.
- SriLankan Airlines extends apologies to customers affected by recent travel disruptions involving a series of cancellations & delays.
- Health Ministry says the threat of the new COVID-19 Sub-variant ‘JN-1’ leading to a pandemic situation within the country is minimal; also says the spread of influenza & other respiratory diseases can be mitigated by wearing masks, social distancing etc.
- Govt likely to pass the Online Safety Bill which provoked controversy & a wide debate few months ago due to its apparent crude repressive nature, next month.
- Sri Pada pilgrim season 2023/24 to commence today (Unduwap full moon Poya day): caskets of sacred relics & statues of the God & regalia to be taken from Galpottawala Sri Pada Rajamaha Vihara in Pelmadulla in 3 processions through – (a) Ratnapura, Palabathgala & Erathna route, (b) Ratnapura, Avissawella & Hatton route, and (c) Balangoda, Bogawanthalwa route.
- Colombo Lotus Tower Management Company says the Lotus Tower had recorded the arrival of 1,400,444 local visitors & 42,297 foreigners since the opening of the Tower on 15th Sept’23.
- Sports Minister Harin Fernando dissolves 5 National sports bodies with immediate effect: action to be taken to hold the respective sports bodies’ elections as soon as possible: the sports bodies are Archery, Bridge, Kabbadi, Roller Skating & Wrestling.
