1.President Ranil Wickremesinghe addresses the 7th Indian Ocean Conference in Perth, on “Towards a Stable & Sustainable Indian Ocean”: highlights the critical need for enhanced “connectivity infrastructure” to accommodate the projected 8-fold increase in the GDP of countries like India & Indonesia by 2050: emphasizes the urgency of addressing the climate crisis, noting the Indian Ocean’s vulnerability to warming & rising sea levels.
2.SJB MP & leader of the United Republic Front Patali Champika Ranawaka underscores the impracticality of opening tax files for every citizen: highlights the considerable time & manpower required to do so: contends that prioritising the collection of unpaid taxes from the 1,272 tax defaulters should take precedence over opening new tax files for every individual.
3.Representatives from various SME sectors come together yet again to call on the Govt to address the pressing issues affecting SMEs, with parate execution, impact of new tax regime and higher electricity cost: also voice concerns regarding aggressive execution of parate law by banks: call for a more balanced approach on enforcement: also say their request to temporarily suspend the parate law has been misinterpreted by CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe.
4.Consumer Affairs Authority says 232 bakery & shop owners have been detected selling underweight loaves of bread & not displaying their prices: asserts legal action will be taken against them shortly.
5. Prominent US academic of SL origin Professor Siva Sivanathan calls upon SL expatriates to contribute a portion of their earnings to SL’s children & youth: says SL can be developed if all its expatriates contribute 5% of what they have earned for the future of SL children & youth.
6.Dissident SLPP MP Professor Charitha Herath says the Govt’s policy statement presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe lacks coherent vision despite the grand rhetoric: also says it solely comprises of outdated IMF policies, which have failed.
7.SJB “Economic Guru” & MP Harsha de Silva re-appointed as Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance: following MPs have also been nominated to serve as Members of the Committee: Shehan Semasinghe, Dr (Mrs) Seetha Arambepola, Suren Raghavan, Anupa Pasqual, Johnston Fernando, Rauff Hakeem, Wajira Abeywardana, Vijitha Herath, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Duminda Dissanayake, Chandima Weerakkody, Nalaka Godahewa, Nimal Lanza, M A Sumanthiran, Dr Kavinda Jayawardhana, Mayantha Dissanayake, Harshana Rajakaruna, U K Sumith Udukumbura, Major Pradeep Undugoda, Isuru Dodangoda, Premnath Dolawatte, Madhura Withanage, & M W D Sahan Pradeep Withana.
8.Sri J’pura University History & Archaeology Professor Karunasena Hettiarachchi says the largest inscription ever in SL has been found from the Dimbulagala Monastery grounds: says it belongs to the beginning of the 2nd centrury BC or earlier: explains that 60% of this inscription is unreadable.
9.State Energy Minister D V Chanaka says SL could reduce fuel prices after March’24 if there is no unpredictable events or sharp depreciation in the SL Rupee: also says the Govt was able to reduce the fuel prices across the board by about Rs.100 during the period around March’23.
10.SL beats Afghanistan by 42 runs in the 1st Cricket ODI in Pallekele: SL 381/3 in 50 overs: Pathum Nissanka 210, Avishka Fernando 88, Sadeera Samarawickrama 44: AFG 339/6 in 50 overs: Azmatullah Omarzai 149, Mohammad Nabi 136, Pramod Madushan 75/4: Pathum Nissanka breaks the record for the highest individual score in an ODI match by a SL player (189) established by Sanath Jayasuriya in 2000: Afghan batters Azmatullah Omarzai & Mohammad Nabi establish the 2nd-highest 5th-wicket stand in ODI history of 242 runs.
