- President Ranil Wickremesinghe proposes a Cabinet paper to form a committee tasked with assessing threats to Presidential candidates and former Presidents, aimed at enhancing their safety during the upcoming elections: The plan, outlined by the President’s Media Division, includes appointing a Deputy Inspector General of Police to oversee security arrangements for this purpose.
- The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) raises concerns over a recent meeting between senior United National Party (UNP) members and Election Commission officials, calling for transparency: SJB MP Mayantha Dissanayake notes although the Election Commission will set the election date, details of the meeting are unclear: mentions speculation about the 2024 Presidential election potentially featuring two Cabinet members as candidates.
- JVP Chief Secretary Tilvyn Silva accuses Ranil Wickramasinghe and his team of creating doubts amongst the public to avoid facing the presidential election, asserting they know they cannot win: criticises attempts to delay elections through constitutional amendments, emphasising that the Election Commission holds the responsibility and power to conduct the election, not Wickramasinghe or the government.
- Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe anticipates Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves will exceed US $5 bn by year-end, driven by robust tourism growth: With over 85,000 tourist arrivals in early July and nearly 1.1 mn in 2024, Semasinghe credits tourism for bolstering reserves: highlights the sector’s vital role in economic recovery and proposes initiatives like the Colombo Airport Super Draw lottery to further stimulate economic activity and consumer spending.
- International human rights watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticises Sri Lanka for continuing to use the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to target perceived opponents and minority communities without credible evidence, despite promises to end such practices: laments the law allows for extended detention without adequate judicial oversight, contributing to arbitrary detention and torture of individuals: reminds efforts to replace the PTA with the Anti-Terrorism Bill (ATB) have raised concerns due to potential provisions that could facilitate abuse: International pressure to repeal the PTA persists amid ongoing human rights violations.
- Sri Lanka’s economic performance in Q1 2024 exceeds projections from the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) by the Asian Development Bank (ADB): Inflation forecasts for South Asia have been adjusted, with Sri Lanka’s revised down significantly to below 2%: Regional growth forecasts remain stable, though uncertainties linked to upcoming elections impact Sri Lanka’s growth outlook for 2024 and 2025.
- The Wildlife Department reports illegal fishing methods, such as bottom trawling, are causing the deaths of marine animals like turtles and dolphins in Sri Lankan waters: Ten dead turtles were found on the western coast last week, with postmortem exams revealing injuries and breathing difficulties: The department urges public vigilance and reporting of illegal fishing to protect marine life.
- Sri Lankan film directors, led by Jayantha Chandrasiri, are calling for a ban on mobile phones in cinemas after a film was illegally recorded and uploaded to social media: urge cinema owners to adopt this measure and request the Sri Lanka Film Corporation to issue a directive: A 24-year-old man from Kandy was arrested for uploading the film “Sinhabahu” to YouTube.
- The Mahāvansha chronicles, Sri Lanka’s primary historical records, housed at Peradeniya University Library, have been recognised as a world heritage: UNESCO’s Director-General presented the certificate to the university’s Chancellor, Professor G.H. Peiris, and received a memento from Vice-Chancellor Professor M.D. Lamawansa: The Mahāvansha, starting with Prince Vijaya’s arrival in 543 BCE, is a crucial historical document.
- Dilshan Madushanka was fined 10% of his match fee and received a demerit point for breaching Article 2.5 of the LPL Code of Conduct during a game between Dambulla Sixers and Galle Marvels on July 14th: admits to using language, actions, or gestures that could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal.
