- President Ranil Wickremesinghe addresses the United Youth Union, stressing the need for realistic economic policies and collective efforts for the nation’s future: warns against unsustainable promises, highlighting the importance of building a self-sufficient economy: engages in dialogue on various issues and receives a commemorative gift in recognition of his participation, fostering discussions for national progress.
- High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka meets former Finance Minister and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) national organiser Basil Rajapaksa: During the discussion, the two exchange views on bilateral relations, political developments and other subjects of mutual interest.
- Member of the NPP Economic Council and former JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti urges foreign investors bidding for state-owned enterprises to refrain from buying the country’s government institutions: warns that they will have to deal with an NPP government later, should they continue to do so: laments these deals are being made under the current regime led by Ranil Wickremesinghe who has no people’s mandate.
- The Postal Department warns the public about a scam involving fraudulent SMS messages claiming recipients need to pay for parcel clearance using bank cards: Scammers impersonate the department and request sensitive bank information: The department clarifies it never asks for bank details via SMS and advises people to avoid sharing such information in response to these deceptive messages.
- The CID arrests Dr. A.T. Sudarshana, the Deputy Director of the Supplies Division at the Health Ministry, in connection with the substandard human immunoglobulin importation scandal: Concerns over the quality of medical supplies procured by the Health Ministry are increasing.
- In response to the tragic murder of a Sri Lankan family in Ottawa, allegedly by a Sri Lankan student, Canadian authorities plan to enhance mental health support for students: The accused faces severe charges, and Canada views the incident as isolated, with no changes to visa policies expected: Efforts to strengthen support for students abroad are underway: Legal experts emphasise Canada’s commitment to fair legal processes, with potential life sentences for the accused if convicted.
- Data from the Institute of Health Policy (IHP) shows consumer confidence in Sri Lanka saw a modest rise in February, driven by improved expectations for the future and better buying conditions: All three Consumer Confidence indices, including perceptions of personal finances and the national economy, showed increases: Despite this, confidence remains overall pessimistic: The data, based on over 15,000 interviews, reflects a cautious optimism among consumers.
- SriLankan Airlines and Korean Air launch a codeshare partnership, effective March 15, 2024, offering more travel options between Colombo and Seoul: Passengers can now enjoy seamless connections via Singapore, expanding SriLankan Airlines’ reach to Korea and Korean Air’s access to India and the Maldives: The collaboration enhances flight choices, connectivity, and travel experience for passengers of both airlines.
- Loan defaulters are requesting a three-year extension to the moratorium on parate rights suspension, following a recent temporary halt until Dec 15: The Sri Lanka United National Businesses Alliance (SLUNBA) expresses gratitude but stresses the need for a longer relief period: urges for comprehensive measures to aid recovery: Previously, the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (SLBA) criticised the unilateral decision to suspend parate rights, defending its use as necessary for debt recovery and banking stability, calling for collaborative solutions to address economic challenges.
- Bangladesh clinched an impressive six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in their first ODI with Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto’s unbeaten 122 and Musfiqur Rahim’s 73 securing a vital fifth-wicket partnership: Despite Sri Lanka’s promising start, their batting faltered, leading to a total of 255 runs: Kusal Mendis and Janith Liyanage provided notable contributions, but Bangladesh bowlers, including Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, and Tanzim Hasan, restricted Sri Lanka effectively: The second ODI scheduled for the 15th at Chattogram.
