- Control prices of rice will remain unchanged, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said during a meeting with rice millers and officials from the Department of Agriculture. He also highlighted that plans are underway for a long-term program to create an organized agricultural plan, which would provide greater benefits to farmers.
- The Cabinet has granted approval to designate the Eastern Container Terminal (ECT) project as a “Special Project.” This decision was made based on a proposal by the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) will develop the ECT in phases as part of the Colombo South Port project, operating it as a fully-owned terminal of the SLPA.
- The Supreme Court has granted permission to name former President Ranil Wickremesinghe as a respondent in Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions filed regarding the alleged police attack and dispersing of a protest organized by the Socialist Youth Union (SYU) in 2022.
- Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa stated that his party could renegotiate the current IMF agreement to benefit the people, something the past and present governments failed to do. Addressing a gathering in Borella, Premadasa emphasized that even from the opposition, SJB has engaged in multiple discussions with the IMF, reaching several understandings.
- The Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo. During their meeting, Ambassador Qi made a donation of LKR 30 million (USD 100,000) as emergency flood relief to assist those affected by the recent flooding in the country
- Former President of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has expressed his willingness to provide testimony in any court in the country, except the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court, regarding the disappearance of two human rights activists in 2011. This statement was made through his lawyer, Romesh de Silva, during a hearing at the Supreme Court.
- The Supreme Court has announced that it will deliver its decision today (23) regarding the petition submitted by the Democratic National Alliance (DNA), seeking a writ order invalidating the decision of the District Returning Officer to reject their nomination for the Vanni Electoral District in the General Election.
- Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando, Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of Colombo, says that they reject the report of the Committee of Inquiry, chaired by retired High Court Judge A.N.J. De Alwis. He made this statement in response to comments made by Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader and former MP Udaya Gammanpila during a press conference where he disclosed the contents of a previously unreleased report regarding the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
- The Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, National Unity, Social Security and Media Ministry has organized the 2024 Presidential Media Awards to honor and encourage journalists’ contributions to fostering a strong media culture in Sri Lanka. The awards will cover multiple categories, including print, radio, television, web platforms, media research, and school media, with a total of 54 awards planned, including four lifetime achievement awards. Only media creations published or broadcast between January 1 and December 31, 2023, will be eligible for consideration.
- The BLACKCAPS have called upon a promising all-rounder and an up-and-coming wicketkeeper-batsman for next month’s white-ball tour of Sri Lanka. Wellington Firebirds bowling-allrounder Nathan Smith and Canterbury wicketkeeper-batsman Mitch Hay have earned their maiden BLACKCAPS call-ups, joining a 15-strong squad led by Mitchell Santner for two T20Is and three ODIs starting in Dambulla on November 9.
