State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says a Gazette has been issued to limit air-travellers from bringing gold jewellery above 22 karats.Govt suspends imports of many products to conserve Forex reserves: among such items are shampoo, perfumes, certain make-up preparations, peas, carrots, turnips, cucumber, gherkins, certain types of mushrooms, strawberries, truffles, papadam, mineral water and men’s suits.Central Bank says Official Reserve Assets increased to USD 1,896 mn by end-December 2022, compared to USD 1,806 mn by end-November 2022: analysts note that the Reserves are still below USD 1917 mn which was the Reserve on 31st March 2022.Govt postpones Parliament debate on the controversial “Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill” until 19th Jan’23: Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe says the Govt will not withdraw the Bill, but has merely postponed it’s introduction.Forest density, which was 83% in 1882 has shrunk to 16% by now, and 395 elephants have been killed between 1st January and 5th December 2022 says the Centre for Environment and Nature Studies: claims that losing forest density can be considered the most severe environmental damage.Unofficial Road Development Authority sources say the Chinese Contractor building the Kadawata-Meerigama section of the Central Expressway has stopped work and is claiming damages as the Exim Bank of China is now not disbursing any funds after the debt default announcement on 12th April 2022.IGP instructs CID to investigate complaints against “YouTube” activists Janaka Senadhipathi and Sepala Amarasinghe over defaming Lord Buddha’s Sacred Tooth Relic and Buddhism: 2 teams of the CID deployed for the investigations.President and Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe appoints Ronald Perera, PC as the Chairman of Bank of Ceylon for the second time.SLPP “Independent” MP Dr Nalaka Godahewa predicts the current Govt will not be able to secure even 20% of the vote at the upcoming local Govt elections: also says the Govt has failed to gain the confidence of the international community and organisations.

10.Sri Lanka beats India in the 2nd T20 Cricket International at Pune, India by 16 runs: level the 3 match series 1-1: SL – 206/6 (20) – (Dasun Shanaka 56*, Kusal Mendis 52, Charith Asalanka 37, Pathum Nissanka 33): IND – 190/8 (20) – (Dasun Shanaka 4/2, Kasun Rajitha 22/2).