- President Ranil Wickremesinghe expresses optimism of contesting the upcoming Presidential election: also says SL will not allow anything that would jeopardize India’s security.
- Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe says many countries which have raised concerns about SL’s Online Safety Bill have similar statutes in their own countries: asserts there are over 5,000 complaints regarding abuse of the online system: also says those who are concerned about the new law must say they will take responsibility to control all such incidents and look after the grievances of the victims.
- Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says SL is in talks with India to establish a multi-product oil pipeline connecting Nagapattnam, Trincomalee Tank Farm and Colombo.
- Ceylon Electricity Board General Manager Narendra de Silva says CEB is planning to reduce its workforce to just 18,000: also says the problems in the energy sector were a key reason for the economic crisis in the country.
- Cabinet approval is being sought to enable India to select a supplier to develop the IT system for the Indian-funded digital ID project after the disqualification of the two initial bidders.
- Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s NPP delegation returns after a 5-day official visit to India: says comprehensive details about the visit would be made public at a press conference in the coming days.
- Reports emerge that the Inland Revenue Dept and Bribery Commission have so far failed to start any investigation into the Sri Lankans mentioned in the “Pandora Papers” published in October’21 by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
- A man whose family was crippled in a drunk driving incident involving a 44-year old businessman Mallawa Kumara last year, allegedly shoots and wounds the businessman near the Thattewa Cemetery, Anamaduwa.
- Navy distances itself from allegations made in Tamil Nadu that unidentified persons were attacking Indian fishermen on the Palk Strait and damaging their fishing vessels: says irate local fish workers could be brawling with poachers within the territorial waters of Sri Lanka.
- SL’s best two white ball bowlers Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva and Mahesh Theekshana due to take lessons from Australia’s Craig Howard who never played for his country and most followers in the island have never heard of: SL Cricket has contracted Howard as the Spin-bowling coach for a 2-year period from 1st Feb’24.
