- President Ranil Wickremesinghe says that if ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had released former PM Khalida Zia from jail long ago, she would still be the country’s Prime Minister. Addressing the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Summit 2024 held in Colombo, Wickremesinghe stated that he welcomes the fact that Khalida Zia had been released from jail.
- The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) led by MP Mano Ganesan has decided to support Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa at the upcoming Presidential Election. MP Ganesan said that they have reached a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the ‘Samagi Jana Sandhanaya’ led by the Opposition Leader, to pledge their support in the 2024 Presidential Poll.
- Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna ( SLPP ) MP Dhammika Perera has informed the party that he will not contest the 2024 Presidential Election as the SLPP candidate due to personal reasons, sources said. Hence, the party leadership has decided to name an alternate candidate. Meanwhile, SLPP National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa is tipped to be named as the party’s presidential candidate, according to SLPP sources.
- The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has expressed its displeasure over the performance of the Buildings Department and Ayurveda Department, when the committee met in Parliament recently under the Chairmanship of the State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna. The Committee Chair has pointed out during the meeting that COPA maintains a data system regarding the performance of government institutions under its purview and according to that data, the Building Department and the Ayurveda Department have been identified as the two institutions with the lowest performance.
- The Election Commission says that a total of 121 complaints have been received since 31st July, pertaining to the 2024 Presidential Election. The election regulatory body said that this includes 68 complaints received by the National Centre for Election Complaint Management and 31 complaints received by the District Centres for Election Complaint Management.
- The petition filed by plantation companies against the gazette notification issued by the Minister of Labor stipulating a minimum daily wage for plantation workers has been withdrawn.
- The agreement for obtaining USD 300 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the implementation of power sector reforms and financial sustainability program has been signed by the Government of Sri Lanka and the ADB.
- Cabinet approval has been granted for the integration of public sector information technology systems to enhance the efficiency and the quality of the public service. Issuing a statement, the Department of Government Information (DGI) said that it has been recognised that it is necessary to integrate information technology systems existing in the public institutions including corporations and Statutory Boards to perform the functions effectively and optimistically through the verification of information and minimization of duplication of data with the objective of enhancement of efficiency and quality of the public service.
- Cabinet approval has been granted to enter into an agreement between the Governments of Sri Lanka and France for the establishment of a Regional Centre for Maritime Studies in Sri Lanka.
- The track kit worn by Sri Lankan athlete Tharushi Karunaratne has been donated to be displayed at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. The kit, autographed by 19-year-old Karunaratne is slated to be displayed in the Olympic Museum in honour of being the youngest athlete who represented the Asian region in the Women’s 800m event.
