DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS
Tamil Headlines
Virakesari: Tomorrow, parliament will honour Sampanthan, today his body will be laid to rest in Colombo: His remains will be transported to Trincomalee on Wednesday for final rites on Sunday | Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares his condolences and says that Sampanthan was a great leader who fought for the Tamil people’s equality | “Sampanthan worked tirelessly to bridge the divide” – President Ranil | Kugathasan to be sworn in as an MP | “The activities of Sampanthan promoted unity,” – America expresses condolences
Thinakaran: Political leaders offer their condolences on R. Sampanthan’s demise. Respects can be paid in Borella from 9:00 am today. Tributes will be held in Parliament on Wednesday, and the final rites will take place on Sunday in Trincomalee | “Sampanthan worked tirelessly to bridge the divide” – President Ranil | “Sampanthan’s memories are always cherished” – Indian PM | “I feel lost in brotherhood” – Mahinda Rajapaksa | “Sampanthan’s dedication became a beacon,” Opposition Leader Premadasa | The government has released Rs. 200 billion to contractors due to the economic crisis and the Covid-19 situation: Minister Prasanna Ranatunga informs that the payments have been fully completed
Thinakkural: Tamils mourn the loss of their great leader. People are deeply saddened, and world leaders also express sympathy. Tributes will be held in Parliament tomorrow | Indian Prime Minister Modi, Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu also extend condolences over Sampanthan’s passing | US Ambassador mourns Sampanthan’s demise | Kugathasan appointed to Sampanthan’s MP post | SLPP decides on candidate: meeting held at Mahinda’s residence
Thamilan: Veteran Tamil leader Sampanthan passes away, leaving a void, respected by Sinhala leaders and the international community | Indian PM Modi extends condolences to the dedicated Tamil leader | President Ranil acknowledges Sampanthan’s efforts to promote unity | “This is the end of an era” – Opposition leader Sajith expresses sadness over Sampanthan’s passing | Sampanthan’s final rites will take place in Trincomalee on Sunday | Former President Mahinda expresses concern over the significant loss following Sampanthan’s demise | Tributes to Sampanthan will be held at the Parliament premises on Wednesday, with a decision made to convene a Parliament session on July 3rd | “Sampanthan is a promoter of pluralism” – MP Mano Ganesan says about Sampanthan | Shanmugam Kugathasan has been appointed to fill Sampanthan’s MP seat
Sinhala Headlines
Lankadeepa: Substandard medicine scam: AG reveals allegations against Keheliya (Rambukwella) in court | The CID has turned Piumi (Hansamali) away | Kanjipani (Imran) given political asylum in France | President to make special statement in parliament today
Divaina: Piumi goes to CID without being called: Sent back without taking a statement: “I have not laundered drug money. I have worked very hard” – Piumi Hansamali | Former lawyer who de-robed imprisoned again for contempt of court | The ‘Devon 5’ tragedy: “Felt faintish right after drinking it. I stopped, but the others continued drinking” – Fisherman who survived states
Ada: Piumi Hansamali goes to court with five bags of files: “I did a proper business. I bought a house and vehicle with the money I earned. My father isn’t Mahinda nor is Gotabaya my uncle. The people will get to know if I earned my money through drugs or black money” – Piumi Hansamali; Piumi to be given another date
Mawbima: Grama Niladharis to launch strike from today onwards: Signs that work will be halted in 14,000 domains islandwide | Debate on the foreign debt restructuring agreement scheduled to be held today, postponed: Today’s parliament session to be only limited to a special statement by the president
Dinamina: “Over Rs. 200 billion in dues to contractors settled; Opportunity to re-register without late fees being charged: NVQ Certificates for 7,000 Carpenters-Masons-Binding Plumbers, Tile Installers” – (Prasanna) Ranatunga | The fisherman, who was in critical condition after drinking the poisonous liquid in a bottle, taken to the Hambantota Hospital on the ‘Vijayabahu’ vessel: “We gave the rest of the drink to the fishermen of another vessel, but they threw it away” – Survivor Sujith Kumar says at the hospital
Aruna: Custodians of the Kataragama Devala engage in row within the temple itself: An attack from the Arapaksha generation to the Rathnayaka generation: “The row erupted over Rs. 60-70 million collected in the offering baskets at the temple” – Basnayake Nilame; Army called to settle the row | Modi expresses condolences over Sampanthan’s demise | Sampanthan’s MP seat to Kugathasan
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: Daily News
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa extend their condolences on the passing of Sampanthan
Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan, Virakesari
President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated, “Sampanthan dedicated his career to bridging divides and promoting national unity.”
Mahinda Rajapaksa, extending condolences, said, “His loss is deeply felt in our collective journey towards unity and understanding. Sampanthan’s contributions were pivotal in fostering harmony.”
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa stated, “Sampanthan’s unwavering dedication served as a beacon for reconciliation and inclusivity.”
“The activities of Sampanthan promoted unity,” the US Embassy of Sri Lanka extends condolences on Sampanthan’s passing
Virakesari, Thinakkural
US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, emphasised that Sampanthan’s advocacy for equal rights of minorities benefited all Sri Lankan citizens, contributing to broader societal progress.
In a statement on ‘X’, she expressed deep sadness over the passing of MP R. Sampanthan, “a seasoned Tamil politician dedicated to fostering a unified and peaceful society in Sri Lanka.”
She noted that his efforts for equal rights significantly advanced human rights for all Sri Lankans and promoted unity.
Ambassador Chung extended heartfelt condolences on behalf of the United States to Sampanthan’s family, friends and loved ones.
“Salaries of plantation workers should be increased by respecting the court order” – MP Vadivel Suresh
Thinakaran
Vadivel Suresh, MP and General Secretary of the Sri Lanka National Plantation Workers’ Union, called for a fourfold salary increase for workers following the merger of large plantation companies.
He expressed concern over the postponed court case on the salary issue, warning of potential cost-of-living increases.
Suresh urged plantation companies to address worker grievances promptly to avoid escalating industrial disputes and management challenges.
SLPP decides on candidate: meeting held at Mahinda’s residence
Thinakkural
President Ranil Wickremesinghe intends to run as a general candidate in the upcoming presidential election with backing from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.
However, opposition within the party to his candidacy has surfaced, particularly with MP Sanjeeva Edirimanna proposing a Podujana Peramuna member for the presidential nomination.
Despite speculation that political ties had concluded, ongoing government confusion, as highlighted by the Party Secretary, continues to impact Rajapaksa’s political prospects.
Currently, there has been no official announcement of Wickremesinghe’s candidacy or discussions with regional leaders about campaign preparations, while Rajapaksa remains actively involved in nationwide campaigning.
“The government is concealing the debt restructuring deal” – Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella charges
Virakesari
Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella accused the government of deceiving MPs by claiming they had published the Foreign Debt Restructuring Agreement report on their website, despite MPs not having seen it.
Despite promises made during a party leaders’ meeting, the report was not submitted to Parliament as expected.
Kiriella emphasised the need for MPs to be fully informed about such agreements, highlighting uncertainty over Sri Lanka’s signing of the debt restructuring document.
He urged the government to sign the agreement officially and promptly present it to Parliament for review.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: Newswire
Substandard medicine scam: AG reveals allegations against Keheliya in court
Lankadeepa, Ada, Aruna
The Attorney General (AG) informed the Court of Appeal that former Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella had misled the Cabinet by providing inaccurate information with regard to the distribution of substandard antibody vaccines within Sri Lanka.
The Court of Appeal reconsidered the writ petition submitted by former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella requesting that the Court of Appeal invalidate the Maligakanda Magistrate’s order to place him in remand custody with regard to the distribution of substandard antibody vaccines.
Piumi comes to CID without being called: Sent back without taking a statement: “I have not laundered drug money. I have worked very hard” – Piumi Hansamali
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina
Sri Lankan model Piumi Hansamali, who is currently being investigated, visited the Illegal Assets Investigation Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), yesterday (1st), to provide a statement.
However, she later stated that her statement was not recorded and that she had been informed that another date would be given.
Speaking to the media, Hansamali stated that she did not earn her money in unlawful ways and that she worked very hard for it.
She added that the public will soon get to know the truth about the issue.
“Sarath Fonseka is no longer an SJB member” – Madduma Bandara
Mawbima
General Secretary of the SJB, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, stated that Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka will no longer be considered part of the SJB.
He added that he cannot be considered part of the SJB when he criticises the party before the president.
“Fonseka, who was supposed to be given the task of ‘catching thieves’ by the SJB is revealing thieves inside the SJB now” – (Anura Kumara) Dissanayaka
Dinamina
Leader of the NPP, Anura Kumara Dissanayaka stated that Leader of the SJB Sajith Premadasa was planning to hand over the task of catching thieves to Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka under an SJB government.
Dissanayaka added that, however, now, Fonseka is chasing Sajith to expose fraud and corruption.
The NPP Leader stated further that Sarath Fonseka had exposed corruption previously by pointing out the flow of casino money before the government.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS
Photo credits: Ada Derana
R. Sampanthan passes away: Funeral arrangements to be held on July 7 in Trincomalee
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinkaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Former Leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and former Opposition Leader, MP R. Sampanthan has passed away at the age of 91.
He reportedly passed away while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.
Sampanthan was a veteran Tamil politician and prominent figure in the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) and his political career spanned six decades, starting in 1977.
The print media also featured Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing his condolences on Sampanthan’s demise, stating that he will always cherish fond memories of meetings with him and that he relentlessly pursued a life of peace, security, equality, justice and dignity for the Tamil nationals of Sri Lanka.
India’s Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M.K. Stalin also expressed their condolences on Sampanthan’s demise.
Additionally, it was reported that Trincomalee District politician Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan is set to replace the late R. Sampanthan in parliament.
An appeal from Hirunika: to be called on July 4
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran
Former MP Hirunika Premachandra has filed an appeal seeking her acquittal and requesting to invalidate the recent verdict issued by the Colombo High Court sentencing her to three years of rigorous imprisonment.
The appeal was handed over to the Colombo High Court to be forwarded to the Court of Appeal. Additionally, Premachandra’s lawyers have also filed a bail application before the Colombo High Court requesting to release her on bail, since an appeal has been filed against the relevant verdict.
The bail application will be taken up for consideration before the Colombo High Court on July 4, 2024.
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. No debate today: Only special address from the president to be held in parliament today – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran
2. Acting AG sworn in – Divaina, Virakesari
3. “Why are they protesting after making a mistake?” – Sri Lankan fisherfolk question Indian fisherfolk – Divaina, Thinakkural
4. “No one can change the agreements the government signed with regard to repaying foreign debt” – Bandula Gunawardana – Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran