- President Ranil Wickremesinghe inaugurated his new political office located on Sir Ernest de Silva Mawatha in Colombo. According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the office will serve as the centre for future political operations.The establishment of the office was initiated by United National Party (UNP) Chairman and Member of Parliament, Wajira Abeywardena.
- Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Nalin Bandara has written to the Independent Television Network (ITN) expressing the party’s disapproval of the state broadcaster over the channel’s recent preparations for a debate between two opposition parties. Detailing the terms under which he extended an invitation to the National People’s Power (NPP) for a public debate, the MP stressed that the invitation was to first conduct a debate between the economic councils of the two parties. MP Bandara said that the ITN had accepted a day named by the NPP without any regard for the planning and discussions between the two parties, which had been suggested by the SJB.
- The Supreme Court, which concluded the hearing of the Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions filed against the postponement of the 2023 Local Government elections, has deferred delivering its verdict. The relevant FR petitions filed against the postponement of the 2023 Local Government elections, which was initially scheduled to be held on March 09, 2023, were taken up before a five-member Supreme Court judge bench led by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya.
- The government has decided to provide Rs. 10,000 each for the families affected by floods in order to clean up their houses, State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon said. The government has primarily allocated an amount of around Rs. 150 million for this purpose, and the relevant funds will be provided to the district secretaries, the State Minister expressed.
- Sri Lanka and a group of creditors are in advanced talks over a deal aimed at restructuring the nation’s debt with bilateral lenders, according to people familiar with the matter. The government and members of the official creditor committee, which includes India, Hungary and the Paris Club, are exchanging draft versions of the accord, or memorandum of understanding, the people said, asking not to be identified as the talks are private.
- Director of the National Dengue Control Unit Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, emphasized that dengue disease extends beyond mere health implications, presenting significant economic and social challenges. He underscored that the Ministry of Health alone cannot effectively control the spread of dengue and requires full public support. Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, disclosed that within the last five months of this year, over 25,000 dengue cases and nine dengue-related deaths have been reported.
- The Ministry of Education launched its inaugural programme to grant vouchers for the purchase of sanitary napkins at the President’s Girls College in Nawala. An investment of Rs. 1 billion has been allocated for this programme, with the view of encouraging school attendance. Accordingly, a voucher of Rs. 1,200 will be given per schoolgirl under the sanitary napkin programme.
- Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives, Moosa Zameer has called on Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at Temple Trees in Colombo. During the meeting, they exchanged views on strengthening existing areas of cooperation, and exploring new avenues, particularly on trade, investment, education and culture.
- The Excise Department has earned a tax revenue of Rs. 88.7 billion in the period from January 1, 2023 to May 31, 2023. It is significant that the Excise Department has earned more revenue than the same period in the last year, which stood at Rs. 69.9 billion.
- Yupun Abeykoon will be ready to run in the National Athletics Championship to be held in Sri Lanka on the 30th in Sri Lanka. The National Athletics Championship is an Olympic qualification tournament sanctioned by the World Athletics Federation. Before this he will participate in the 100 meters in two tournaments held in Finland on the 18th and 22nd.
