- President Ranil Wickremesinghe has slammed the sudden promises from presidential candidates Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake about reducing fertilizer prices and cutting farmers’ loans, questioning as to where they were when farmers were struggling without access to fertilizers. The President highlighted that his efforts, including discussions with world leaders to secure fertilizer subsidies, were instrumental in getting farmers back to their fields and boosting rice production in the country.
- Sri Lanka’s opposition leader contesting the presidential election next week said Thursday that if he comes to power he will renegotiate with the International Monetary Fund the 2022 economic reforms package to ensure that the rich pay more taxes and the poor see their conditions improve.
- The Presidential Candidate of the National People’s Power (NPP), Anura Kumara Dissanayake says that steps will be taken under his government to expand the country’s economy. He further added that the country’s economy is currently constrained and lacking in growth.
- The presidential candidate of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Namal Rajapaksa says that he will work to ensure that Sri Lanka is transformed into a developed nation in Asia within the next 10 years. He further emphasized his support for the local farmers by ensuring fair and stable prices for their produce such as tea leaves, pepper, and milk.
- The Postal Department says that around 77% of official polling cards for the 2024 presidential election have already been distributed thus far. Deputy Postmaster General Rajitha Ranasinghe says that the distribution of nearly 13.2 million official polling cards has already been completed. He further said that the polling cards will also be distributed to the voters on 13th and on 14th.
- The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has announced that the total tax revenue collected for the period from January to August 2024 amounted to Rs. 1,229,245 million. Compared to the tax revenue collection of Rs. 956,418 million during the same period in 2023, revenue collection has increased by 28.5% in 2024, the department said in a press release.
- Sri Lanka has recorded nearly 1.4 million tourist arrivals during the period elapsed this year. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) stated that the total number of tourist arrivals from January 01 and September 08, stands at approximately 1,395,773. A higher number of tourists had visited the island in the month of February with that figure recorded as 218,350.
- Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena Wednesday signed a bill to raise the monthly minimum wage by 12.5 per cent, days ahead of the island nation’s presidential elections. The Speaker endorsed the certificate on the bill titled ‘National Minimum Wage of Workers (Amendment) Bill’ in accordance with article 79 of the Constitution, the Parliament’s Media office said in a statement.
- Presidential candidate and former Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe has pledged to slash fuel prices by 50% if elected in the upcoming Sri Lankan Presidential Election. He also promised to reduce the VAT rate to 10%, citing the need to provide relief to the public amidst rising living costs.
- Warrant Officer II Samitha Dulan, who recently set a new world record and won a silver medal in the F44 javelin throw event at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, was honoured by the Sri Lanka Army Military Police, at the Sri Lanka Army Military Police Regimental Centre in Polhengoda.
