- President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that a robust economy can be established by enhancing the export economy, manufacturing, tourism, technology sectors, and modern agriculture. He highlighted that the government has already laid the foundation for this vision.
- A group of Members of Parliament from the opposition have sent a letter to the Election Commission, requesting that the Presidential Election be held on the earliest possible date in order to prevent any attempts to delay polls. Accordingly, the parliamentarians urged the commission to exercise its maximum legal authority to ensure the election is conducted in a free and fair atmosphere.
- The Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Union says its trade union action was called off yesterday following the intervention of former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to convene a discussion with the relevant authorities. Speaking to local media, the Chairman of the Union Sumedha Somaratne said the former Speaker had convened a meeting with the Minister and State Minister of Transportation.
- President’s Counsel Mr. K.A. Parinda Ranasinghe has been appointed as the new Attorney General of Sri Lanka by President Ranil Wickremesinghe. He was appointed in terms of Article 61E (b) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka at the Presidential Secretariat, a short while ago, the President’s Media Division said.
- Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and six others, arrested over the alleged importation of substandard human immunoglobulin vials, have been further remanded until July 25.
- Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has slammed the Police for releasing video footage on the interrogation of a suspect arrested in connection to the recent shooting in Athurugiriya in which businessman ‘Club Wasantha’ was killed. Addressing the Parliament, the Justice Minister said in the video the Police were seen questioning a suspect in public and with access to media. Stating that it is a violation of the law, he said under such circumstances, the services of the Police officers involved in such interrogation must be suspended.
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $100 million policy-based loan to support and facilitate reforms in Sri Lanka, aimed particularly at enhancing the financial sustainability of the power sector in the island country.
- Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition before the Supreme Court, seeking an order to prevent holding of the Presidential Election as the 19th Amendment to the Constitution has not been properly passed in Parliament.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe inaugurated the second and third phases of the Bingiriya Export Processing Zone, aiming to transform Bingiriya into a major economic hub. The expansion is set to generate an estimated USD 2,600 million in export revenue and create 75,000 job opportunities.
- India is highly unlikely to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 which is scheduled to take place in Feb-Mar next year. The Sri Lanka cricket team will replace India cricket team if the latter decide to pull out of the Champions Trophy 2025. Rohit Sharma and co. are highly unlikely to travel to Pakistan which is scheduled to host the marquee tournament next year. As per reports, Sri Lanka who did not qualify for CT 2025 owing to their 9th placed finish in the 2023 ODI World Cup will replace India.
