1. President Ranil Wickremesinghe says Sri Lanka Navy is entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding Sri Lanka’s oceanic territories, including the Indian Ocean region. He underscored that the nation’s economic initiatives will not be permitted to suffer any harm in the Indian Ocean. President Wickremesinghe made these remarks while delivering a speech at the Presidential Fleet Review of the Sri Lanka Navy held at the Trincomalee Harbour.

2. Retired Lieutenant Colonel Rathnapriya Bandu has extended his support to the main Opposition, Samagi Jana Balawegaya. Premadasa has appointed Retired Lieutenant Colonel Rathnapriya Bandu as the head of the SJB’s Committee for national unity, peace and harmony at home and abroad. 

3. Finance Ministry unveiled the Government Action Plan, crafted from the Governance Diagnostic Assessment (GDA) provided by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe, in a statement on his X handle, emphasized that this plan underscores the Sri Lankan government’s dedication to fostering a sustainable economy and promoting good governance within the country.

4. Sri Lanka’s earnings from tourism were estimated at USD 342 million in January 2024, the Central Bank’s latest report on external sector performance revealed. This is the highest monthly value the country has witnessed since January 2020.

5. The Department of Examinations has released the examination dates for various competitive school exams in 2024. The 2023 G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) exam is scheduled to take place from May 06 to May 15, 2024. The Grade 05 scholarship exam for 2024 is set for September 15, 2024. Lastly, the 2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level (A/L) exam is planned to be held from November 25 to December 20, 2024, according to the announcement from the Department of Examinations.

6. Expolanka Holdings PLC, the largest listed company in the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) according to the Market Capitalization, has decided to de-list the company’s shares from the Official List of the CSE.

7. The Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery will cease operations for 45 days in early July 2024, more than 03 years since the previous turnaround (TAR) in February 2021, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) announced.

8. Parliament has decided to call Central Bank officials to a parliamentary inquiry concerning salary adjustments. The officials are scheduled to appear next Tuesday(05) at 10:30 am. The session aims to address queries from parliamentarians regarding salary increments and seek clarifications on related matters.

9. A writ petition has been filed before the Court of Appeal seeking that an order be issued to the IGP and other respondents to take legal action against the former Chief of the State Intelligence Service, Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena over failure to prevent 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks, despite receiving intelligence information. The petition was filed by the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR), its director Rev. Fr. Jude Vernon Rohan Silva and a victim of Easter attacks named Devage Surach Nilanga.

10. Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Janith Perera has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh due to a “respiratory infection”. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have announced Niroshan Dickwella as Perera’s replacement.

March 02, Colombo (LNW): Justice, Prison Affairs, and Constitutional Reforms Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, marked the opening ceremony of the Pannipitiya, Depanama, Mahawatta Road development, part of the ambitious 1,500-kilometer road reconstruction project for the year 2024, on Thursday (29).

Responding to media queries about the Speaker’s decision on appointing a new Inspector General of Police (IGP), Minister Rajapakshe highlighted that despite the constitutional amendment and the appointment of 10 members to the Legislative Council, the absence of a designated representative for minor parties is causing the delay. He noted that the Speaker faces a practical challenge in this matter and suggested seeking legal interpretations from the Supreme Court if any concerns arise.

Minister Rajapakshe further addressed the economic challenges faced in the past three years, attributing them to the Easter attack, the Covid-19 pandemic, and an overall economic crisis. Despite these obstacles, he commended the current President’s leadership for revitalizing development activities within a short period.

He emphasized the need to focus on the agricultural and industrial sectors for the country’s economic growth. The Minister highlighted the introduction of a loan scheme for small and medium enterprises and announced the commencement of road development covering 1,500 kilometers across the nation under the Highways and Road Development Ministry.

Looking ahead, Minister Rajapakshe assured the residents of the Maharagama constituency that numerous roads would undergo renovation in the future. The event saw the participation of former Municipal Councillors of Maharagama Municipal Council, officials from the Road Development Authority, and local residents, underscoring the collaborative effort toward national development.

March 02, Colombo (LNW): The Finance Ministry of Sri Lanka released the Government Action Plan based on the recommendations of the recently concluded Governance Diagnostic Assessment (GDA) conducted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The GDA was initiated at the request of Sri Lanka, making it the first country in Asia to undergo this comprehensive exercise.

State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe announced this significant development, emphasizing the commitment of the Sri Lankan government to fostering a sustainable economy and good governance. The release of the Government Action Plan precedes the upcoming visit of an IMF team for the second review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program, scheduled to commence on March 7.

The Government Action Plan outlines tasks aimed at fulfilling the 15 Reform Commitments set by the IMF through relevant state institutions. The IMF has provided completion dates for each commitment, including ongoing implementations with regular updates.

According to the plan, two Reform Commitments outlined in the GDA have already been successfully completed on time, with others nearing the implementation stage. The government is actively working on reforms assigned to state institutions and ministries to ensure the timely and efficient implementation of IMF recommendations for the country’s development.

One notable achievement highlighted in the plan is the full implementation of the reform commitment under the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. This involves the development of rules by the Constitutional Council for appointing Commissioners to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). The rules aim to establish an open and transparent process to ensure selected candidates meet high standards of professionalism, ethical conduct, and integrity.

Additionally, the Ministry of Finance has successfully completed another IMF reform commitment, requiring the publication of information on a designated website. This includes details on all public procurement contracts above LKR 1 billion, firms receiving tax exemptions through the Board of Investment and the SDP, and firms receiving tax exemptions on luxury vehicle imports. The Ministry pledges to provide semiannual updates for these details, ensuring transparency and accountability in economic practices.

March 02, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, in collaboration with the Government of Sri Lanka and U Solar Clean Energy Solutions, officially signed a contract for the implementation of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems on the islands of Delft, Nainativu, and Analaitivu off Jaffna. The ceremony, held in the presence of High Commissioner of India Santosh Jha and Power and Energy State Minister Indika Anuruddha, marked a significant step towards addressing the energy needs of the local communities.

This transformative project, designed to cater to the energy requirements of the three islands, is made possible through grant assistance from the Government of India (GOI). The hybrid system integrates various energy sources, including solar and wind power, to optimize capacities and ensure sustainable energy solutions.

The support extended by the GOI underscores the importance placed on bilateral energy partnerships and reflects the human-centric approach to development collaboration. Notably, the energy sector was identified as a priority area in the India-Sri Lanka Economic Partnership Vision document, established during President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to India in July 2023. Ongoing discussions between India and Sri Lanka in the energy sphere include landmark initiatives such as power grid connectivity and a multi-product two-way oil pipeline.

India’s commitment to overall development partnership with Sri Lanka amounts to US$ 5 billion, with a substantial portion, nearly US$ 600 million, allocated to grants alone.

March 02, Colombo (LNW): Deputy Incumbent of Gangaramaya Maha Viharaya, Ven. Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thera, along with a contingent of Thai Buddhist devotees, met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday (29). The purpose of the meeting was to present a generous donation of US$ 50,000 to President Wickremesinghe.

In response, President Wickremesinghe directed the Secretary to the President, Saman Ekanayake, to allocate the donated funds towards the “Let’s Wipe a Tear Drop” project. This initiative, proposed by the President’s Fund, aims to provide assistance to underprivileged groups in the country.

This marks the third instance in which this benevolent group has contributed funds for charitable causes in Sri Lanka. In both 2010 and 2011, they donated US$ 200,000 to the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo. These earlier contributions were instrumental in enhancing sanitary facilities in 1,800 temples across the nation.

March 02, Colombo (LNW):Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Kalutara, Ratnapura, Nuwara-eliya, Galle and Matara districts in the evening or night. A few showers are likely in Southern and Eastern provinces during the morning. Mainly dry weather will prevail elsewhere in the island.

Fairly strong winds about (30-35) kmph can be expected at times in North-western province and in Hambantota district.

The public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize the damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.