1. State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe says SL plans to utilise the IMF 2nd tranche of USD 330mn to settle arrears owed to multi-lateral creditors including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.
   
2. US Dept of Defence’s annual report 2023 to Congress on “Military & Security Developments involving China” states China is trying to expand its global military footprint: says China has “probably” considered other countries as locations for its military logistics facilities, including Burma, Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, UAE, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Seychelles, Tanzania, Angola, Nigeria, Namibia, Mozambique, Bangladesh, PNG, Solomon Islands & Tajikistan.
   
3. SL-born Melbourne financial planner Terence Rio Rienzo Nugara pleads guilty in a County Court in Australia to 37 charges of obtaining a financial advantage by deception and 2 charges of theft: as a result of his deception, he has been accused of stealing AU$10,152, 061 from 38 Australian victims.
   
4. President Ranil Wickremasinghe says new legislation will be introduced soon to ensure the proper standards of conduct of MPs: also says former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is drafting legislation to ensure high standards of MPs.
   
5. President Ranil Wickremasinghe says SL will give its fullest support to the UN Secretary General’s program to stop conflicts and establish peace in Gaza.
   
6. Navy says a multi-day fishing vessel and 5 suspects were arrested in Dondra Point with over 200 kgs of heroin with a street value of over Rs.4,000mn: also says the seizure was made in a deep-sea operation conducted by the Intelligence Division of the Navy and the Police Narcotics Bureau.
   
7. Education State Minister Aravinda Kumar says appointment letters for around 5,000 school principals across all 3 service grades will be distributed next month: also hints at a potential salary increase for teachers in the forthcoming budget.
   
8. Election Commission Chief L M A R Ratnayake says the Commission is set to raise the security deposit required from all election candidates: asserts that this move is aimed at dissuading an excessive number of candidates from applying: also says this increase could help decrease overall election costs.
   
9. SL Gem & Jewellery Assn says SL has generated USD 315mn in revenue from the export of gems and jewellery so far in 2023, recording a growth of 34% over the same period in 2022.
   
10. Slinging seamer Matheesha Pathirana 20, likely to be ruled out of the balance World Cup matches due to a right shoulder injury: so far, Pathirana has played 2 matches, picked up 2 wickets for 185 runs.

Colombo (LNW): Public health inspectors (PHI) are set to take a nationwide trade union action today (23).

Public health inspectors, accordingly will go on sick leave as part of this trade union action, Secretary of the Public Health Inspectors’ Association Shanaka Bopitiya said.

The trade union action is being taken stemming from various professional concerns they face.

Colombo (LNW): A discussion was held between Governor of Eastern Province and President of Sri Lanka Labour Congress, Senthil Thondaman, with the Chief Minister of Sindh Maqbool Bakaru who is on an official visit to China, regarding the development activities of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) adopted by the United Nations and the problems faced by migrant workers of Sri Lanka in Pakistan.

In this context, migrant workers from Sri Lanka to Pakistan employed as workers in many companies including masons, garment factories, and motor vehicle spare parts manufacturing industry. Mr. Thondaman brought to the notice of the Chief Minister about the problems which they were facing there.

Chief Minister Maqbool Bakaru accepted the request made by Thondaman and agreed to take into his consideration to take necessary steps for them and also extended an official invitation to the Eastern Province Governor to visit Sidh State in Pakistan.

Colombo (LNW): The National Election Commission is set to raise the security deposit required from all election candidates.

This move is aimed at dissuading an excessive number of candidates from applying, said Election Commission Chief L.M.A.R Ratnayake.

He further suggested that this increase could help decrease overall election costs.

The proposal is currently awaiting approval from both the Attorney General’s Department and Parliament.

Colombo (LNW): Appointment letters for roughly 5,000 school principals across all three service grades will be distributed next month, announced Education State Minister Aravinda Kumar.

The Minister also hinted at a potential salary increase for teachers in the forthcoming budget.

Colombo (LNW): Steps are being taken to expedite the process of restructuring public institutions, announced Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe, addressing a briefing in Anuradhapura today (22).

The restructuring of loss-incurring state bodies is currently being carried out successfully in a move to provide solutions to the current economic crisis, he told media.

He added that the necessary discussions regarding the foreign debt optimisation programme are also underway.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): Atmospheric conditions are favourable for thunderstorms at most of the places over the island during the evening and night, with thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning being expected at several places in Central, Sabaragamuwa, North-central, Eastern and Uva provinces, the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology said in two separate advisory statements today (22).

Heavy showers, above 100 mm are likely at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva and Eastern provinces, and temporary localised strong winds may occur during thundershowers.

The General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to
minimise damages caused by lightning activity.

Colombo (LNW): The foundation stone for the “Kuwait Zakath” Housing Village – Phase 2 in Erukkalampetti, Mannar was laid today (22) under the patronage of Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga.

Funded by the Zakat House of the State of Kuwait at the invitation of the Minister of State for Rural Economy, Kader Mastan, this housing development will feature 125 homes.

These homes are designed to aid Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) beginning resettlement in the Mannar district, with each house receiving Rs. 1.8 million for construction.

The project’s first phase, which already opened, comprised 75 houses and cost Rs. 105 million.

The resettlement of those displaced by conflict is overseen by the Urban Development and Housing Ministry.

Present at the event were the Deputy Ambassador of Kuwait to Sri Lanka, Badar Alno Waim, representatives from Kuwait, Minister of State for Rural Economy Kader Mastan, Director General of Kuwait Zakat House Majed Sulaiman Alazmi, National Housing Development Authority Chairman, Mr. Rajeev Suriyarachchi, Mannar District Manager, Mr. Mohammad Ibrahim, among others.