- President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday (March 22) instructed respective officials to ensure that the national “Urumaya” freehold deeds program be completed by June; empasized that it is the dream of every citizen to attain legal ownership of land, regardless of their background. He firmly believes that everyone should have this fundamental right. He made these remarks while attending the ‘Urumaya’ Freehold Deeds program held in the Ottagapulam, in Jaffna.
- Opposition and SJB Leader MP Sajith Premadasa requested the government to consider revising the proposal to lower the age of capacity to consent to sex from 16 years to 14 years for female minors. As per the current laws, the Penal Code as amended in 1995 gives the age of 16 years as the age threshold of capacity of a minor under 18 years to give consent to sex. The Opposition Leader pointed out that there were objections from women-led societies in Sri Lanka over the said proposed amendments to the Penal Code and that the government must consider revising certain amendments.
- Former President Maithripala Sirisena claims he is aware of the true mastermind of the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks and that he is prepared to disclose the information to the judiciary if inquired from him or issues an order regarding the matter.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe has held a discussion with the founder of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, where attention was drawn to the upcoming elections and the future political affairs. This meeting comes after President Wickremesinghe had informed the Cabinet of Ministers to make preparations for the presidential election first.
- The Attorney General has informed the Court of Appeal that it expects to submit a comprehensive investigation report on all ‘Mahaviru Day’ celebrations held to date, commemorating the cadres of the now-defunct separatist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam’s (LTTE) in the Northern and Eastern provinces.
- Sri Lanka is close to finalising a debt treatment plan with India and the Paris Club, sources familiar with the negotiations said, pointing to a likely moratorium of up to six years and a reduced interest rate during the repayment period. As many as 17 countries that have extended loans to Sri Lanka formed the Committee last year for ease of debt restructuring negotiations.
- Sri Lanka Police have announced cash rewards for informants assisting with the ‘Yukthiya’ special operations underway targeting drugs and underworld-related activities in Sri Lanka. Cash rewards are provided to informants to assist in the arrest of suspects with firearms or the discovery of firearms alone, with cash rewards ranging from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 500,000.
- The merchandise export performance in February 2024 amounted to US$ 983.7 million, recording a modest increase of 0.17 % compared to February 2023, the Export Development Board (EDB) says. In addition, export performance in February 2024 increased by 1.3% compared to the preceding month, January 2024.
- The Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mizukoshi Hideaki has expressed Japan’s support for the current program aimed at rebuilding the Sri Lankan economy. Drawing parallels between Japan’s historical journey and Sri Lanka’s current economic challenges, the Ambassador highlighted Japan’s resilience and economic resurgence as a model for Sri Lanka.
- Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis both hit centuries as Sri Lanka fought back against Bangladesh to reach 265/7 a short while ago on the opening day of the first Test. The young Sri Lankan all-rounder Kamindu Mendis accordingly brought up his maiden hundred in Test cricket.
