1. President Ranil Wickremesinghe announces plans to modernise Sri Lanka’s film industry, transitioning an outdated film corporation into a development company: Emphasising the importance of embracing technology, he highlights intentions to provide foreign training opportunities for artists and production designers: mentions plans to support the production of Sri Lanka’s first AI film, noting the integration of artificial intelligence into the global film industry.
   
2. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says certain ‘cardboard socialists’ are boasting of free health and free education in the guise of socialism when in reality they are sending their children to private universities and are receiving treatment from private hospitals: responds to criticism that he only knows of ‘distributing items’, the Opposition Leader stresses that he acts in no interest of personal gain, but for the well-being of the people of Sri Lanka.
   
3. Sources says three prominent members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) are reportedly preparing to pursue legal action after being ousted from their positions during a meeting of the executive committee and seat organisers on March 30: The decision saw Duminda Dissanayake removed from the role of National Organiser, Mahinda Amaraweera from Senior Vice President, and Lasanta Alagiyawanna from Treasurer.
   
4. MP Wimal Weerawansa acquitted of invalid passport charges by Negombo Magistrate’s Court: Charges stemmed from 2015 incident of using an expired passport for travel, later replaced: Defense argued Immigration’s inaction during initial attempt and legality of using valid visa from old passport alongside renewed one: Court found in favour of Weerawansa, ending legal proceedings.
   
5. State-run LP gas distributor LITRO Gas Lanka announces price reductions for domestic cylinders effective midnight today (01): Prices reduced by Rs. 135 for 12.5 kg cylinder, Rs. 55 for 5 kg cylinder, and Rs. 23 for 2.3 kg cylinder.
   
6. Sri Lanka’s trade deficit expanded in February due to increased imports as the economy resumed normal activities: However, the deficit contracted significantly from the previous month, mainly due to reduced spending on fuel imports: Imports totalled US$1.378 billion, while exports were US$1.059 billion, resulting in a US$319 million trade deficit for February: This improvement is attributed to strengthened exports and reduced imports: Y-o-Y data shows a 35.0% increase in merchandise imports and a 7.9% increase in exports, reflecting gradual economic normalisation.
   
7. The SLTDA provisional data shows that Sri Lanka has seen a remarkable rise in tourist arrivals, surpassing 600,000 in the first 27 days of March 2024: This surge indicates a rapid recovery compared to the previous year, with arrivals expected to exceed 200,000 by month-end: Leading the influx are visitors from India, Russia, Germany, the UK, and China: Additionally, tourism earnings for the first two months of the year soared by 118.2% year-on-year, totaling US$ 687 million.
   
8. Dry weather conditions have affected around 10,000 individuals from 3,027 families across the country, with Gampaha and Kegalle districts experiencing the most significant impact: The Meteorology Department of forecasts hot weather throughout April, with scattered showers or thundershowers expected in various provinces, especially in the afternoon: Misty conditions are anticipated in certain areas during the morning period.
   
9. The United States National Transportation Safety Board discloses that the cargo ship involved in the Baltimore bridge collapse was carrying hazardous materials, including corrosive substances, flammables, and lithium-ion batteries: Owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and chartered by Maersk, the MV Dali was en route from Baltimore to Sri Lanka.  
   
10. Sri Lanka set a Test cricket record by scoring 531 runs without an individual century in the second match against Bangladesh: This followed a standout partnership and century performances in the first Test: Sri Lanka’s achievement joins a short list of teams accomplishing similar feats in cricket history.

April 01, Colombo (LNW): National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader MP Wimal Weerawansa has been acquitted from the case concerning the use of an invalid passport.

The Negombo Magistrate’s Court rendered its verdict today (01), absolving the MP of the charges brought against him.

The legal proceedings stemmed from an incident in 2015, during which Weerawansa attempted to travel abroad using an expired passport.

Subsequently, he procured a renewed passport but was apprehended during a subsequent travel attempt.

Allegations arose when it was discovered that the MP presented an expired passport, containing a valid visa, for travel purposes. However, he was detained only upon attempting to travel with a renewed passport.

In defense, MP Weerawansa’s legal counsel argued that the Immigration officials failed to act during his initial attempt to depart with the expired passport, contrary to their actions during his subsequent travel endeavour with the renewed passport.

Furthermore, it was highlighted that the Immigration and Emigration Department permits the utilisation of a valid visa from an old passport alongside a renewed one for travel.

Considering these aspects, the Negombo Magistrate’s Court exonerated MP Wimal Weerawansa from the case, bringing closure to the legal proceedings.

April 01, Colombo (LNW): State-run LP gas distributor LITRO Gas Lanka has declared a reduction in the prices of its domestic LP Gas cylinders.

Effective from midnight today (01), the updated prices are as follows:

• 12.5 kg cylinder: Reduced by Rs. 135, with the new price set at Rs. 4,115.
• 5 kg cylinder: Reduced by Rs. 55, with the new price set at Rs. 1,652.
• 2.3 kg cylinder: Reduced by Rs. 23, with the new price set at Rs. 772.

This announcement aims to provide relief to consumers and reflects the company’s commitment to offering competitive pricing in the domestic gas market.

April 01, Colombo (LNW): The dry weather prevailing in Sri Lanka has adversely affected approximately 10,000 individuals from 3,027 families nationwide.

The district of Gampaha is experiencing the greatest impact, with 7,053 individuals affected by the dry conditions.

In addition, 2,813 people in the Kegalle district are also facing challenges due to the lack of rainfall.

Hot weather conditions are expected to persist throughout the month of April, according to the Department of Meteorology.

In its forecast, the Meteorology Department predicts scattered showers or thundershowers in several areas of the Western, Southern, Sabaragamuwa, and Uva provinces after 2:00 p.m.

Some regions may experience fairly heavy showers exceeding 50 mm.

Additionally, showers or thundershowers may occur in a few places in the North-western and Central provinces, as well as in the Mannar and Vavuniya districts during the evening or night hours.

Misty conditions are anticipated in certain areas of the Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, and Western provinces, along with the Galle and Matara districts during the morning period.

April 01, Colombo (LNW): As of March 27, 2024, Sri Lanka has witnessed a remarkable surge in tourist arrivals, surpassing the 600,000 milestone within the first 27 days of March.

This achievement was reported by provisional data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), and reflects a significant acceleration compared to the previous year.

In 2023, the country reached the 600,000 mark towards the end of June, highlighting the accelerated pace of recovery in the tourism sector.

Historical comparisons underscore the resilience of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, with the country successfully crossing the 700,000 mark by the end of March in both 2018 and 2019, prior to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Easter Sunday attacks.

As of the reporting date, Sri Lanka has welcomed a total of 181,872 international visitors, with a weekly arrival average of approximately 46,000 and a daily average of about 6,700.

Projections indicate that tourist arrivals are expected to surpass the 200,000 mark by the end of March.

Analysis of tourist arrival trends since 2015 suggests that the influx of international visitors typically experiences a slowdown from the third month of the year until July.

Leading the surge in tourist traffic for March 2024 is India, constituting 16 per cent of the total arrivals, followed closely by the Russian Federation at 14 per cent.

Germany ranks third, contributing 9 per cent of the total tourist arrivals, with the United Kingdom and China securing the fourth and fifth positions, respectively.

Meanwhile, earnings from tourism for the first two months of the year amounted to US$ 687 million, reflecting an impressive year-on-year growth of 118.2 per cent compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, Central Bank data showed.