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Sri Lanka Original Narrative Summary: 16/03

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1. President Ranil Wickremesinghe urged all local government officials to wholeheartedly commit themselves to ensuring that the benefits provided to the people through government funding for development activities are effectively utilized.By responsibly managing these resources, officials can contribute significantly to bolstering the national economy, he added.

2. Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, who is in remand custody in connection with the substandard human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) procurement, has submitted a bail application to the Colombo High Court.

3. A total of 14 Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) have been received from potential investors for the Strategic Divestiture of Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. (LGL) and Litro Gas Terminals (Pvt) Ltd. (LGT). The REOIs received were considered by the Opening Committee appointed by the Special Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee. 

4. The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore has revealed that over 400 Sri Lankan nurses currently work in Singapore. A group of 100 nurses arrived at the Changi Airport in Singapore on Friday (15 March), under an ongoing collaboration with Singapore’s Ministry of Health Holdings, making this the largest group of nurses to be deployed to Singapore simultaneously.

5. The Supreme Court concluded the hearing of petitions seeking the annulment of recommendations and findings of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) appointed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to investigate alleged incidents of political victimisation. Despite concluding the hearing, however, the Supreme Court deferred announcing its decision.

6. The suspended health trade union action will be resumed from March 19 (Tuesday), says the Convenor of the Health Service Trade Unions Ravi Kumudesh. Addressing a media briefing in Colombo, Kumudesh said the authorities failed to provide them with satisfactory solutions to the issues facing the health sector workers.

7. Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dr. Harsha de Silva has refuted recent claims that he requested for a meeting with the visiting delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In response to a statement made by State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe, the SJB MP stated that he had merely requested for the Opposition to be involved in the External Debt Restructure (EDR). He further highlighted that he had made a request in this regard given the crucial importance of the Opposition being made aware of such facts and figures in the event they are elected as the next government.

8. The Department of Forest Conservation has issued a concerning report, revealing that 55 hectares of forest cover have been ravaged by recent forest fires. These destructive fires, which occurred over the past few weeks, pose a significant threat to Sri Lanka’s delicate ecosystem.

9. Excise Department Commissioner General M. J. Gunasiri stated that e-cigarettes are currently posing a multitude of challenges for both society and the Government, leading to a substantial loss in tax revenue. He elaborated that these particular cigarettes are packed with a substantial level of nicotine, posing a greater threat to the human body compared to a standard cigarette.

10. Two Indian team managers participating in the Legends Cricket Trophy, currently underway in Sri Lanka, have been prohibited from leaving the country by the Colombo Magistrate Court. The court issued the order following a complaint filed by the Special Investigations Unit of the Sports Ministry regarding match-fixing allegations.

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