- The high-level delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) visiting Sri Lanka met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo today, the President’s Media Division said. President Dissanayake reaffirmed commitment to IMF objectives and advocated for alternative solutions to ease the burden on people today.
- Senior administrative officer, Aloka Bandara has been appointed as the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, Local Government, and Labour. Aloka Bandara was officially appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
- The Election Commission of Sri Lanka says that steps will be taken to hold the Local Government Elections, in compliance with the Supreme Court order, as soon as the upcoming General Election is concluded. The announcement notes that the Election Commission has given due respect to the Supreme Court’s decision made on 22.08.2024, concerning the Fundamental Rights Applications related to the 2023 Local Government Elections.
- Mahinda Amaraweera says that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is yet to take a final decision on how it will contest the General Election. He mentioned that they are also considering forming an alliance with several other parties for the upcoming General Election.
- Chanditha Samaranayake, independent consultant of the Gates Foundation, met with the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat and engaged in a discussion. The Gates Foundation’s projects related to upliftment of agriculture in Sri Lanka, improvement of children’s nutrition including provision of school lunch, development of human resources in the public and private sectors, livestock, climate change etc. were discussed at length.
- The Minister of External Affairs of India, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will be undertaking an official visit to Sri Lanka on 04 October 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed. During this visit, the External Affairs Minister of India is scheduled to pay courtesy calls on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, the statement said.
- President Anura Kumara Dissanayake affirmed his commitment to supporting public servants who dedicate themselves to creating an efficient, citizen-focused public service. He emphasized that unlike under previous administrations government officials working in the interest of the people will no longer face political retaliation.
- Former MP Rajika Wickremesinghe and Daham Sirisena joined the Mawbima Janatha Party (MJP) led by entrepreneur Dilith Jayaweera. Rajika Wickremesinghe has been appointed as the MJP’s Kegalle District Organisers and Dedigama electorate organizer while Daham Sirisena has been appointed Polonnaruwa District Organiser.
- The Department of Probation and Child Care Services has introduced a programme to provide birth certificates for children whose births have not been registered. Accordingly, officers of the Department have been assisting district child protection officers to identify such children and help with their school admissions.
- Sri Lanka Tourism’s strategic promotional efforts have borne fruit, as the country has achieved its full year tourist arrival numbers from 2023 within the first nine months of 2024, Sri Lanka Tourism said in a statement. As of September 2024, the total tourist arrivals reached 1,487,303, surpassing last year’s total. September alone saw 112,140 arrivals, marking a 9% growth year-on-year.
