- President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasises addressing the North’s issues requires both political and developmental efforts: plans to strengthen provincial councils, accelerate development, establish a National Land Commission and a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and resolve the issue of the disappeared: urges adherence to the IMF programme to ensure economic stability and criticises opposition leaders for lacking solutions.
- SJB presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa criticises the government’s recent relief measures as a pre-election tactic, arguing they should have been implemented earlier: stresses these concessions should have been implemented at the start of the year, not at this late stage: dismisses claims by NPP’s Anura Kumara Dissanayake that his party intended to incite violence.
- National Peoples Power (NPP) leader and presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the upcoming election would be a pivotal moment for uniting the country to overcome its challenges: emphasises the NPP remains as the sole political party that did not change the narrative of developing the country based on the electorate in which they hold public gatherings: criticises other parties for using certain political figures in a bid to match the audience at public gatherings, when in reality such figures, according to Dissanayake, are of contradictory political ideologies: also implicates that the racist propaganda launched against the NPP by putting Sri Lankan cultural values as bait depicts no difference compared to the racist propaganda launched in 2019 for the victory of Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
- Sri Lanka’s GDP grows by 4.7% in the second quarter of 2024, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of positive growth after six quarters of contraction since 2022: Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe attributes this recovery to ongoing reforms, projecting a year-end growth of 4% – 4.5%, surpassing the IMF’s 2% target, signalling successful economic stabilisation.
- The Commissioner General of Excise announces all liquor shops and wine stores across Sri Lanka will be closed on September 21 and 22 due to the Presidential Election.
- Sri Lanka’s Cabinet approves an MoU between Sri Jayewardenepura University and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases to study a new tuberculosis treatment model: Tuberculosis is the country’s second most infectious disease: Supported by a $387,280 grant from IUATLD, the study aims to assess the model’s effectiveness under the national tuberculosis control programme.
- The Grade 5 Scholarship Examination will take place today (15) at 2,849 centres across Sri Lanka, with 320,879 students participating: Commissioner General of Examinations Amith Jayasundara urges presidential candidates to avoid campaign activities near examination centres to prevent disruptions during the exam.
- Education Minister Susil Premajayantha announces the delayed GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) results will be released within two weeks, and the GCE Advanced Level (A/L) exams are set for 25 November 2024: assures the 2025 school year will start on 2 January, with measures in place to prevent future delays in exams and school terms.
- The Cabinet approves a proposal to amend the Penal Code to prohibit all forms of corporal punishment: The proposal, presented by the Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, will be published in the Gazette before submission to Parliament: The Attorney General has cleared the draft, following initial cabinet approval on 29 April 2024.
- Outgoing ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) chief Alex Marshall claims elite cricket is mostly corruption-free but warns of threats from local T20 leagues outside ICC control: notes increased player reporting of corrupt approaches, highlighting efforts to maintain cricket’s integrity: Marshall’s tenure saw significant achievements, including tackling corruption in Sri Lankan cricket and ensuring stricter vigilance in the sport: proposes that Sri Lanka is in a much better place to keep corruptors away.
