Sri Lanka Original Narrative Summary: 15/03
1. President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that an expert committee would be appointed to investigate and propose solutions for the prevailing economic challenges, particularly within the construction sector. He also emphasized the inclusion of experts from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Urban Development, and Housing in this committee formation process.
2. A delegation from the Jathika Jana Balavegaya (JJB) met with the IMF Mission in Sri Lanka. The discussion primarily focused on the progress of governance and reform frameworks recommended by the IMF team. Additionally, concerns were raised regarding recent governmental actions, notably the appointment of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Chairman, which sparked scrutiny.
3. The suspects who were remanded after being implicated in the alleged importation of substandard Immunoglobulin vaccines, including former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, have been refused bail. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) had commenced an investigation into allegations that the pharmaceutical company had imported 22,500 vials of substandard Immunoglobulin vaccines by creating forged documents with the assistance of the two senior state officials.
4. Large-scale drug trafficker Mohommed Shiran Basik was acquitted from a drug case against him on orders of the Colombo High Court. Colombo High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne ordered the defendant’s acquittal citing significant contradictions in the testimonies provided by officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB)
5. Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence received a stock of special Explosive Ordnance Disposal Equipment under the Chinese Military Grant scheme. The consignment was officially handed over at a formal ceremony held at the Army Headquarters, headed by Qi Zhenhong, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka and General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence.
6. Dates has been fixed to debate the no confidence motion against the speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. The related debate is scheduled to take place in Parliament on Tuesday, the 19th, and Wednesday, the 20th.
7. Basil Rajapaksa, the founder of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), stated that he would prefer the Parliamentary Election to be held prior to the Presidential Election in Sri Lanka. He expressed his belief that holding the Parliamentary Election after the Presidential Election would not accurately reflect the people’s reality.
8. United Petroleum Australia, who entered into Sri Lanka’s petroleum retail operations last month, plans to obtain their licence to commence operations mid-2024, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera stated. The petroleum retailer and importer was assigned 150 fuel stations across Sri Lanka, and was also given the right to build 50 new fuel stations.
9. Environmental groups are escalating their opposition to the proposed Adani wind farm in Mannar, alleging that political parties have disregarded its detrimental environmental, social, and economic effects. Leading figures such as Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda and environmental lawyer Jagath Gunawardena are prominently involved in this resistance against the project.
10. Former Sri Lankan cricketer Lahiru Thirimanna has been hospitalized following a road accident in Thrippane, Anuradapura, the Police said. He has been admitted to Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital with minor injuries sustained in the accident
