- A discussion on the educational challenges confronting Muslim schools in the Colombo region was convened under the leadership of President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat. Key issues addressed included the shortage of teachers, inadequate space and classrooms, difficulties in teaching Islam in Sinhala, absence of schools in Muslim-majority areas.
- The National Peoples Power (NPP) has challenged Opposition Leader MP Sajith Premadasa for a public debate, stating that it accepts the various calls for a debate proposed by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) members. Addressing the media, NPP member Sunil Handunnetti said party Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake was ready for a public debate with MP Premadasa.
- The Colombo High Court rejected the bail application filed by the General Secretary of Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero, who was recently handed a 4-year rigorous imprisonment.
- Member of Parliament Gamini Lokuge has been unanimously elected as the new Chairman of the Committee on Banking and Financial Services for the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament.
- The government has decided to import a total of 1,000 buses and vans to improve the transportation facilities provided to tourists. Accordingly, in a bid to boost the tourism sector, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to a proposal presented by the Minister of Tourism and Lands to import 750 vans and 250 buses.
- Mr. W. K. D. Wijerathne has been appointed as the Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.
- Chairman of the NMRA Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama says he requested support from the WHO to improve the condition of the laboratories. Accepting the request, a pharmacist and a doctor attached to the World Health Organization have arrived in Sri Lanka. Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama says they are currently conducting investigations.
- The Colombo Commercial High Court yesterday issued an Enjoining Order restraining popular singer Senaka Batagoda from singing seven popular songs including “Api Kavuruda” and “Api Senasille”. The order was issued by Colombo Commercial High Court Judge Priyantha Fernando after considering a complaint filed under the Intellectual Property Act by musician Janath Kulathilake who was the combined lyrics, melody and music compositor of those seven songs sung by Senaka Batagoda.
- The government has decided to provide free-of-charge sanitary napkins to schoolgirls starting this month. Thereby, as many as 800,000 schoolgirls from rural schools, remote schools, estate schools, and urban schools with poverty-stricken students, will thus be provided with sanitary napkins free of charge.
- The ongoing trade union action launched by the health sector workers has been called off. The trade unions affiliated with the Health Trade Union Alliance were planning to resort to an indefinite strike today (03) after the discussion that was originally scheduled to be held on Monday with the ministerial authorities was deferred
