- President Ranil Wickremesinghe conducts an observational tour of the Tangalle and Galle areas: inspects several tourist hotels, actively engaging with proprietors to gain firsthand insights into their challenges: asserts swift and decisive actions will be taken in response to concerns raised by the business community: liaises with relevant officials over the phone, orchestrating solutions and soliciting input on strategies for industry development.
- EU Ambassador Carmen Moreno meets with micro, small, and medium-scale businessmen in Sri Lanka, at the Opposition Leader’s office: Opposition Leader Premadasa highlights the challenges faced by these businesses, including impacts from the Easter attack, COVID-19, and economic difficulties, resulting in closures and auctions: stresses their significant contribution to the economy and employment.
- JVP former MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa says the government has proposed a resolution to abolish the executive presidency in a plot to prevent NPP/JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake from winning the next Presidential Election: stresses that those who had initially opposed the idea of abolishing executive presidency are suddenly wooing the resolution, in a bid to secure the position of the current regime which came to power without a mandate.
- Leader of the Mawbima Janata Party and former media mogul Dilith Jayaweera says he did not intend to join politics, but believed in political streams and backed various parties in the past: asserts he has now commenced a journey for the people of the country: admits that the past allegiances he might have resorted to were committed on the sole belief of building the country and making it a developed one for its citizens.
- The prison hospital faces severe overcrowding with 350 inmates, far exceeding its 185-person capacity: Authorities express grave concerns and urge immediate measures to address the crisis: Efforts focus on discharging patients promptly to create space, although expanding capacity is not currently viable.
- The Chief Prelates of the three Buddhist Chapters express concerns to President Ranil Wickremesinghe about potential social instability amid discussions on state asset privatization: highlight this critical problem in a formal letter seeking attention and deliberation.
- The Ceylon Teachers’ Union announces a trade union action starting in Kandy on Tuesday to demand the government fulfill its commitment of providing a salary increment: Union Secretary General Joseph Stalin laments despite receiving one-third of the promised amount, the government failed to provide a clear timeline for the rest: The action follows 120 days of waiting and increasing financial strain on educators due to the rising cost of living.
- The Purchasing Managers’ Index indicates that manufacturing and services sectors expand in January 2024, despite the recently revised VAT hike: Manufacturing growth is driven by textiles & apparel, but food and beverages declined after the festive season: Employment and Stock of Purchases increased, but Suppliers’ Delivery Time lengthened due to shipping disruptions: Services, including personal services and tourism-related sectors, continued to grow, but VAT amendments and the end of the festive season affected wholesale and retail trade negatively.
- Sri Lanka plans to revise electricity tariffs after consultations by the Public Utilities Commission, despite objections from the Electricity Consumers’ Association (ECA): The Union claims the Electricity Board incurred arbitrary expenses, including high emergency power purchase prices: highlights allocations for unlicenced power plants and construction expenses, urging the PUCSL to consider them: Meanwhile, electricity demand dropped by 22%, but revenue doubled due to a price revision in 2023.
- Sri Lanka clinched victory by 4 runs at a thrilling T20 match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in Dambulla: Wanindu Hasaranga’s strong batting led SL to a total score of 160/10: Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran’s 67 runs fell short as Matheesha Pathirana’s 4 wickets for 24 runs secured the win for SL.
