The first license of the electric vehicle import license program was issued to foreign workers who legally send dollars to Sri Lanka through the banking system yesterday(20). This first vehicle license was obtained by a Sri Lankan who is currently working abroad.

Accordingly, the Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara granted this license to Mr. Dhamma Perera, his authorized representative in Sri Lanka.

As Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said, Currently, there is a special demand for electronic vehicle licenses and many foreign workers are continuously making inquiries about this and information and applications in this regard can be obtained from the website of the Ministry of Labor and Foreign Employment or the website of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau.

The Lotus Tower was opened for public exhibition on the 15th. Every day a large number of people came to see the Lotus Tower and the people who came had expressed different opinions about the Lotus Tower.

One of the monks said that after climbing the lotus tower, he felt as if he had come close to ‘Tusitha Dew Lowa’. Some people had said that after spending days in fuel queues and gas queues, they were in a queue for the first time to see the Lotus Tower. People also said that they forgot all the issues for a moment.

People who post positive opinions about the Lotus Tower say that the revenue from its display can be used to pay off debts. However, it is a problem how to pay the loan taken in dollars for the construction of the lotus tower with rupees received from local tourists.

Joining a television conversation last night, the Minister of State Shanta Bandara also expressed a similar opinion.

However, foreign tourists must come to visit the Lotus Tower in order to pay off the debt from the revenue generated through the exhibition.

As stated by the Minister of State Shanta Bandara, the number of foreign tourists who have visited the Lotus Tower in the first 04 days is 28. One foreign tourist has to spend 20 dollars for that and thus the income earned in the first 03 days is 560 dollars.

The Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe says that the agreement received from the creditors is extremely crucial for obtaining financial relief from the International Monetary Fund. He points out that in order to continue the negotiations with the financial fund, an agreement must be reached with the creditors.

Nandalal Weerasinghe mentions that discussions are being held with creditors regarding debt restructuring, and he hopes to receive a positive response from them regarding debt restructuring by next Friday.

The Governor of the Central Bank expressed these views while attending a conference held in Colombo.

He says that in order to recover from the crisis that the country is facing, it is mandatory to restructure the loss-making government institutions, and economic stability cannot be achieved except with such a decision. Nandalal Weerasinghe said that the first step is to increase the electricity tariffs, maintain the fuel price at a stable level, and increase the tax revenue, and as the second step, the restructuring of institutions such as the Petroleum Corporation and the Electricity Board, which are suffering serious losses, should be carried out.

The Governor of the Central Bank emphasizes that certain decisions taken for the sake of economic stability will be painful for the society, but for the good of the country, the people will have to endure the pain for a limited time.

President Ranil Wickramasinghe, who had gone to Britain to attend the funeral ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II, has returned to the island.

Accordingly, it is reported that today (21st) at around 8.20 am, the delegation including the President arrived at Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport.

Venura Gunawardena, the former president of Sathosa, was arrested yesterday (20) by the Criminal Investigation Department.

That is under the charge of defrauding more than 31 lakh rupees.

Accordingly, he was produced in court yesterday and remanded until today (21).

1. President Ranil Wickremesinghe meets King Charles III in London: also meets the Sri Lankan diaspora in UK and invites them to foster new investment opportunities in the country: asserts that all must get together to fight “bankruptcy”.
   
2. Analysts say Government’s interest expenditure increased by a staggering Rs.398bn in just over 5 months since the Central Bank upped its policy rates by 7% on 8tb April: additional expenditure on T-Bills interest – Rs.99bn, and on T-Bonds – Rs.299bn: assert the fiscal deficit has risen to untenable levels.
   
3. Government MPs call upon PM Dinesh Gunawardene to have a Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to carry out a probe on tax evaders and consultants who aid and abet tax evasion.
   
4. Mahanayake Theras of the three main Chapters call for a methodical and concessionary electricity tariff policy for places of religious worship: Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says only 12,586 religious places out of 48,682 get electricity bills over Rs.3,990 per month.
   
5. SLFP sources say their MPs who accepted Ministerial portfolios from the Government will be removed from their official positions in the party.
   
6. Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka says India has begun talks with Sri Lanka on restructuring its debt: also says first round of talks with Sri Lankan officials held on 16th September were cordial, symbolising India’s support for a speedy commencement of an IMF programme.
   
7. Tourism earnings increase in the first 8 months of 2022 to USD 893mn from USD 63mn in 2021: Workers’ remittances decrease in first 8 months of 2022 to USD 2215mn from USD 4,224mn in 2021, although Rupee has been depreciated from 200 per USD to 365 per USD.
   
8. Shavindra Fernando PC submits to the Supreme Court that Sri Lanka recorded its best-ever growth and other macro-economic indicators when his client Ajith Nivard Cabraal was Governor from 2006 to 2014: asserts all decisions taken when he was Governor were lawful and bona fide: says FR petitions against his client are arbitrary, vexatious, and malicious: calls for its dismissal in limine.
   
9. Pivithiru Hela Leader and former Minister Udaya Gammanpila says Sri Lanka’s unitary status could be at stake as the UNHRC’s resolution could be tied to aid to Sri Lanka: expects Western countries to exert pressure as the country has now declared bankruptcy.
   
10. Well known Australian cricketer cum coach Tom Moody and Sri Lanka Cricket end their contract by mutual consent.