- President Ranil Wickremesinghe has expressed his commitment to integrating Generation Z into society and empowering them to take responsibility for the country’s development. He said he believes this will enable Sri Lanka’s youth to shape the society they envision for themselves.
- Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has accused President Ranil Wickremesinghe and JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake of forming a secret political alliance ahead of the 2024 Presidential election. He further suggested that the two leaders may have divided the presidency and premiership between them. Premadasa criticized their alleged alliance, stating that it benefits them, not the country, and urged the public not to be deceived by false promises again.
- The Presidential Candidate of the National People’s Power (NPP), Anura Kumara Dissanayake says that the NPP would establish a government that truly supports the people of Sri Lanka. He also criticized the current administration and former rulers of the country for enriching themselves while putting the country in poverty.
- President Ranil Wickremesinghe has removed five state ministers, including Geetha Kumarasinghe, with immediate effect, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD). The other State Ministers removed from their portfolios include Shasheendra Rajapaksa, Amith Thenuka Vidanagamage, Prasanna Ranaweera and D.V. Chanaka.
- The Government of Sri Lanka has rejected the latest report on the island nation by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, accusing it of exceeding the OHCHR’s mandated sphere of human rights to comment on macroeconomics as well as financial and budgetary issues under sovereign parliamentary purview.
- An agreement has been reached in a discussion held in the Wages Board, to provide a daily minimum wage of Rs. 1,350 for plantation workers along with an allowance of Rs. 50 for an extra kilogramme of tea leaves. State Minister of Labour, MP Vadivel Suresh, estate owners and plantation trade unions were present for the discussion.
- The Commissioner General of Examinations Amith Jayasundara says that the results of the 2023 G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination are expected to be released within this month. He further stated that they are currently conducting various checks and finalizing the result and that the results will be ready for release in about two weeks.
- The Convenor of the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF), Madushan Chandrajith and several others were taken into police custody during a protest near the Colombo Fort Railway Station. The protest was organized against the proposed National Education Policy Framework and the establishment of private medical colleges.
- The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the procurement of a policy-based loan of US$ 400 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through two sub-programmes for the implementation of Sri Lanka’s financial sector stability and reform programme. The first sub-programme has received US$ 200 million of the total loan amount by December 2023.
- Sri Lanka triumphed over Cambodia in a thrilling penalty shootout, winning 4-2 after a 2-2 draw in regulation time during the AFC Asia Cup 2027 Qualifiers Playoff Round at Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium. Goalkeeper Sujan Perera was the hero of the night, making crucial saves in the penalty shootout to secure the victory.
