- Police Dept says that in the 50 days since its launch, Operation “Yukthiya” has apprehended 56,541 suspects in relation to drug trafficking and other criminal activities: 49,558 for trafficking, possessing & using illicit drugs, and 6,983 who have been listed in the “Island Registered Criminal” (IRC) list.
- State Minister Anuradha Jayaratne says a programme to place those guilty of civil offences under house arrest will be implemented this year: also says that relevant laws are currently being drafted by the Legal Draftman’s Dept: asserts the intention is to reduce overcrowding in prisons.
- Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella who is presently in remand custody, resigns as Environment Minister: granted permission to attend today’s Parliamentary session, but he declines to participate.
- Export Development Board, Apparel Sourcing Association, SL High Commission in UK and Joint Apparel Association Forum jointly organize SL’s first ever textile & apparel roadshow in UK: aim is to boost apparel exports to USD 1 bn in 2 years from around USD 600 mn at present.
- SL Family Health Bureau report reveals that the percentage of pregnant mothers suffering from anemia has increased to 16.0%: highest percentage reported from Jaffna at 28.3%: pregnant mothers suffering from iron deficiency is 11% and those suffering from Vitamin D deficiency is 35.6%.
- SL banks convert clients’ credit card balances into loans of extended tenor, lower interest rates, and better settlements, to combat credit card defaults: since of late, banks had witnessed an increase in non-settlements of credit card balances.
- PHU Leader & rebel SLPP MP Udaya Gammanpila denounces the Govt move to grant land deeds to farmers: says such shortsighted decisions would result in the loss of land of the farmers: points out that former land Ministers, including former PM D S Senanayake, C P de Silva, Gamini Dissanayake and D M Jayaratne refrained from granting land deeds to people looking for political benefits.
- Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry say Free Trade Agreements with China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam are being pursued and expected to be completed by the end of this year: asserts that more FTAs will boost exports, foreign investments and economic growth: Sabry was the Finance Minister at the time SL announced bankruptcy on 12th April’22.
- Ports Authority to shortly receive 12 nos. STS Gantry cranes and 40 ARMG cranes from China at a total cost of USD 282 mn: such cranes to be installed at the Eastern Container Terminal (ECT) of the Port of Colombo: the total cost of the cranes is borne by SLPA.
- Former SL Cricket white-ball skipper Dasun Shanaka excluded from the 16-member squad for the Afghanistan 3-match ODI series starting on 9th February at the Pallekele Int’l Cricket Stadium: bowling all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne re-called to the squad.
