The Western province continued to lead the provincial gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023, albeit slipping from the 2022 levels while the North Western and Central provinces following as the distant second and third in the provincial distribution of Sri Lanka’s total economic output.

Despite the data being very much lagging, the Western province accounted for 43.7 percent of total GDP for 2023, measured on the current market prices.

The North Western and Central provinces accounted for 10.9 percent and 10.3 percent, respectively, compared to 11.1 percent and 10.0 percent in 2022.

The data released this week showed that Sri Lanka’s economy had continued to grow at an accelerated pace of 5.5 percent in the third quarter, from 4.7 percent growth seen in the second quarter, with all three major economic sectors – agriculture, industrial and services – recording growths of 3.0 percent, 10.8 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively.

Sri Lankan economy contracted by 2.3 percent in 2023, at a much lower pace than the 7.3 percent contraction in 2022, as the country was coming out from an economic crisis caused by the shortage in foreign currency, which left the country with fuel, medicine, food and many other essentials in short supply.

The provincial GDP data, which was released only yesterday, showed that the Western province led the highest contribution to the services activities, with 45.9 percent in 2023, reflecting its dominant role in providing services for the rest of the activities in the economy such as finance and logistics for other activities such as industrial and agriculture.

The Central province followed, with a 10.4 percent contribution to the services sector while the Southern province had a 9.9 percent share. The Western province also led the industrial sector activities, with a contribution of 48.7 percent, due its availability of better infrastructure and it being close to the ports.

The North Western and Central provinces followed as the distant second and third contributors to the industrial activities, with shares of 12.3 percent and 9.3 percent, respectively.

Meanwhile, the North Western province led the agriculture activities, with a 19.6 percent share in 2023, followed by the Southern and Central provinces, with 13.5 percent and 12.4 percent, respectively.

The government will conduct fresh probes into the scams involved in the import of a stock of biofertilizer from China and in the introduction of organic farming during the time of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a minister said yesterday.

Cabinet spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said today that the people will know whether the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MPs had sought assistance from the President’s Fund as claimed by SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekara when the rest of the list is released soon.

The circular issued by the Western Province Education Zonal Ministry prohibiting private tutoring classes for students by school teachers, along with the letter issued by the Education Ministry regarding modulators, has been withdrawn, Parliamentarian Mahinda Jayasinghe said.

Adding further controversy to the misuse of the President’s Fund, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dayasiri Jayasekera yesterday said some of JVP members also sought assistance from the President’s funds prior to 2010.

In response to queries about the potential introduction of new taxes on imported vehicles, Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayathissa said today that the Finance Ministry will make an official announcement regarding taxes in the future.

In response to widespread concerns regarding the alleged presence of Israeli soldier Gal Ferenbook in Colombo, police said that they have not received any verified information on the matter.

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) is set to add one of its overhauled and upgraded Kfir multirole combat aircraft to its fleet within the first three months of next year, the Daily Mirror learns.

The tri-forces security provided to former Presidents will be removed from today as announced by Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala. The Defence Ministry said instructions regarding the matter have been issued to the Commanders of the tri-forces. The Defence Ministry said only police security will be assigned for the security of former Presidents.

The Ministry of Education announced that the second stage of the third term for the 2024 academic year in all government and government-approved private schools will commence on January 2, 2025. The term is set to run for three weeks, concluding on January 24, 2025.

A female student and another woman were killed after being struck by an express train at the Anuradhapura New Town Railway Station. The victims were part of a group from Ratnapura attending a taekwondo tournament at the Anuradhapura Public Ground.