- Public Security Minister Tiran Alles says steps will be taken to present the Online Safety Bill to Parliament on 23rd Jan’24: also says “international” organizations, embassies and others are expressing opinions against the bill, but the Govt will not be influenced by such pressures.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe said to be planning to prorogue Parliament on 27th Jan’24: also expected to address the nation through the House when it is convened after the Independence Day celebration on 4th Feb’24.
- President Ranil Wickremasinghe proposes to develop Victoria Dam in Kandy and the surrounding area as a major tourist attraction: the dam is named after Queen Victoria and was opened in 1985 by then President J R Jayewardene and then UK PM Margaret Thatcher.
- SL Navy Spokesperson says 189.38kg of ‘ICE’ with a street value of approximately Rs.1.8bn and 55.64kg of Heroin with a street value of approximately Rs.1.4bn were seized from a vessel off the coast of Galle.
- CID arrests Deputy Director of Health Services (Supplies Division) at the Ministry of Health, H B Herath over the alleged importation of substandard Immunoglobulins: Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court remands Herath until 10th Jan’24.
- CID informs Fort Magistrate’s Court that an investigation has been launched into Ruwan Prasanna Gunaratne, who allegedly promoted suicide via religious preachings and committed suicide recently.
- Police ask the public to notify them about any religious cults that manipulate or coerce people into adopting specific faiths that may pose a threat to their lives: notification to be done via their hotlines – “118” and “119”: clarifies that the Police has the authority to intervene if such incidents may lead to loss of life.
- President of the “Organisation of Relatives of the Disappeared during Military Conflicts” Sivanathan Jenita and a civil society activist taken into custody for organizing a protest against President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to Vavuniya: these activists had raised black flags and protested at the Vavuniya Cultural Hall.
- Cement manufacturers say the maximum retail price of a 50kg bag of locally manufactured cement has been increased by Rs.150 with immediate effect: increase due to the imposition of the VAT on 1st Jan’24: new price – Rs.2,450 per bag
- Sri Lanka opening batsman Pathum Nissanka to miss the ODI Cricket series opening match against Zimbabwe as he is down with Dengue fever.
