- President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has extended an invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Sri Lanka, during the joint media briefing held in New Delhi. Meanwhile, he also stated that PM Modi had assured continued economic support for Sri Lanka. During the meeting, the Sri Lankan leader assured that the island nation would not allow the country to be used in “a manner that is detrimental to the interest of India”.
- The National Building and Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued early landslide warnings for multiple areas in several districts, as heavy rainfall continues in parts of the island. The NBRO says that the warnings will be in effect until 4.00 p.m. today (Dec. 17).
- Parliament will elect a new Speaker today to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former Speaker Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala, who was appointed as the Speaker of the Tenth Parliament. Parliament is scheduled to meet at 9.30 am today under the patronage of Deputy Speaker Dr. Mohammed Rizvi Sally and the main business of the House will be the appointment of the Speaker.
- The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) says that 342 raids have been carried out so far ahead of the festive season with regard to selling rice above the controlled price. CAA Chairman Hemantha Samarakoon stated that these raids were carried on between November 17.
- Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe says the government has decided to impose maximum retail prices on a range of essential items in the future. He made these remarks today (16) while speaking to the media in Anuradhapura.
- A group of 27 Sri Lankans, including eight women, who were victims of human traffickers in Myanmar, has returned to the country. They arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake onboard a SriLankan Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand.
- The present Government will not implement the Galle Harbour Port City project which had been planned and proposed to be implemented by the previous Government, Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Rathna Gamage said. The Deputy Minister disclosed the Government’s stand on the project when responding to the media, during his inspection tour of the Galle Fishery Harbour recently.
- Sri Lanka and India today exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to avoid double taxation and to train Sri Lankan civil administrators at the Indian National Centre for Good Governance. The signing of the MoU was carried out in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is on a three-day state visit to India.
- The Department of Inland Revenue has announced that outstanding taxes for the 2023/2024 assessment year must be paid by December 26. Inland Revenue Commissioner General Sepalika Chandrasekara emphasised that no penalty waivers will be granted to individuals or companies failing to meet the deadline.
- Sri Lankan national swimmer Minagi Rupesinghe, representing Killer Whale Aquatics (KWA), emerged as the undisputed Women’s National Champion at the Sri Lanka National and Junior National Short Course Swimming Championship held at the Isipathana College Swimming Pool Complex last week.
