DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS
Tamil Headlines
Virakesari: “Restart the investment projects; we expect investments in the power-generation and ports sectors” – Ali Sabry requests Japan | Pictorial: Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, the prime minister and other MPs are carrying the coffin of veteran leader R. Sampanthan | “The management of Mattala International Airport will be handed over to an Indian-Russian joint venture; Kankesanthurai pier is to be developed with financial assistance of USD 69 million” – Nimal Siripala de Silva
Thinakaran: “No room will be given to anyone to disrupt the academic activities in schools from 7.30 am to 1.30 pm” – President, on the occasion of conferring 2,159 teaching appointments; directs AG to examine the relevant additional measures | “Certain teachers are engaged in trade union action immediately after their appointment; do not darken the education of the children” – Susil Premajayantha | “SriLankan Airlines will be restructured; it will not be sold to anyone” – Nimal Siripala de Silva
Thinakkural: FR petition filed by a trader seeking an injunction order against the presidential election till the Supreme Court gives an interpretation on the election date | “President conspires to prolong his power” – S.M. Marikkar | Rajitha Senarathne met Hirunika Premachandra in the prison | Many parties are interested in filing intervening petitions to the FR petition filed challenging the presidential election | Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayaka are in the forefront; UNP is in the background
Thamilan: “A new controversy has arisen challenging the tenure of Ranil Wickremesinghe; FR petition was filed before the Supreme Court seeking interpretation on the president’s term | “SriLankan Airlines will not be sold” – Nimal Siripala de Silva | Pictorial: House mourns veteran leader R. Sampanthan
Sinhala Headlines
Lankadeepa: A petition submitted to court for the postponement of the presidential election | Two students had gone up to the 67th floor claiming to attend a party: Did the students jump or fall? | The Mattala Airport to be handed over to a Russian-Indian joint venture
Divaina: Is the term [of the president] five or six years? Do not hold the presidential election until the SC confirms the term – An FR petition submitted to the court
Ada: Police severely tortures an individual: Three have shown their IDs stating that they were from the Southern Province Corruption Prevention Unit, abducted a 55-year-old and beaten him inhumanly; the individual had been stripped naked at the Embilipitiya Police and had nai miris (hot pepper chillies) applied on sensitive areas of the body; the attacked individual escaped the police and lodged a complaint at the Sevanagala Police along with officers from the Human Rights First Aid Centre in Hambantota
Mawbima: Postpone the presidential election until the interpretation on the [president’s] term is given – A petition to the SC seeking an interim order | The disappearance of Whisky bottles worth Rs. 200 million in Aluthkade: Storekeeper remanded
Dinamina: “Things will go wrong if school education is disrupted. Will not let anyone directly or indirectly break down school education” – The president states while attending the ceremony at Temple Trees to give new appointments to 2,159 teachers ; AG given directives to look into next steps | Rs. 200 million worth of Whisky missing from the Colombo Chief Magistrate Court: Storekeeper in charge of the court case items remanded | “From today, the ‘Yukthiya’ operation will be intensified. No matter what obstacles or challenges are encountered, operations will continue until drugs are wiped out” – Alles | “Drugs worth Rs. 19 billion caught: 5,449 smugglers arrested” – IGP
Aruna: A businessman goes to court to prevent the presidential election until the [president’s] term is known: States that the 19th Amendment is ambiguous
Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: Daily News
“Many issues will be created by the formation of a national government” – Rohitha Abegunawardhana
Thamilan, Thinakkural
SLPP MP Rohitha Abegunawardhana stated that the formation of a national government in the present context will create unwanted criticisms and new issues in the country. He added that since there is an election to be held soon in the country, various criticisms will arise on account of the efforts in forming a national government. He further added that President Ranil Wickremesinghe should have established a national government immediately after he assumed the office of president.
“Certain teachers are engaged in trade union action immediately after their appointment” – Susil Premajayantha
Virakesari, Thinakaran
Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha stated that certain teachers darken the future of the children by joining trade union action immediately after they obtain their teaching appointment. He requested the teachers not to engage in such activities. He further noted that conferring teaching appointments is not an easy task, but the government has accepted such a challenge to provide the teaching appointments amidst the economic crisis.
“Eight presidents deceived R. Sampanthan” – Ariyanethran
Thinakkural
Former ITAK MP P. Ariyanethran stated that his party views the veteran leader of the ITAK late R. Sampanthan as the leader who trusted eight presidents and was deceived. He added that the late R. Sampanthan engaged in negotiations with eight presidents of this country with the aspiration that a federal solution would be given within the joint North-East region, but he has passed away before being deceived on the same by the ninth president of this country.
G.C.E A/L examination results of Trincomalee Zahira College have been released
Thinakaran, Thinakkural
Governor of the Eastern Province announced that the withheld General Certificate of Education (G.C.E) Advanced Level (A/L) examination results of the students of Trincomalee Zahira College have been released. The results of more than 70 students of the said school were withheld by the Department of Examinations. Thereafter the students made an appeal to the governor. Accordingly, the governor took measures through negotiations with the Department of Examinations to get the examination results released, and consequently they have been released.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: Lankasara
The SLFP membership of MP Dayasiri Jayasekara suspended: Seven days given to provide an explanation
Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina
The SLFP has taken measures to temporarily suspend the membership of MP Dayasiri Jayasekara. General Secretary of the SLFP MP Duminda Dissanayake stated that Chairperson of the SLFP Nimal Siripala de Silva had made the decision based on several factors, including Jayasekara creating a political alliance together with other political parties and organisations. Additionally, General Secretary Dissanayake stated that disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with the party’s constitution if Jayasekara fails to reply to the letter sent by the SLFP seeking explanation within seven days.
A court case against the X-press Pearl vessel suspended
Divaina, Ada, Mawbima
The Supreme Court issued an interim order suspending further proceedings related to the indictment filed before the Colombo High Court against eight accused, including the captain of the container ship MV X-press Pearl. The Supreme Court three-judge-bench issued the order after considering an appeal application filed by the accused-petitioners challenging the Court of Appeal decision to dismiss their revision applications. This interim order will be effective till February 12 next year.
“The government is using various tricks to postpone the presidential election” – Peiris
Divaina
MP Prof. G.L. Peiris stated that the government is using various unsuccessful and useless tricks to postpone the presidential election. He added that when Section 30 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka clearly states that the president’s term is five years, the government wants to postpone the election.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS
Photo credits: Hiran De Alwis
A petition submitted to court for the postponement of the presidential election
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
A Fundamental Rights (FR) petition has been filed before the Supreme Court (SC) seeking an interim order to prevent the Election Commission (EC) from conducting the presidential election until the court provides an accurate interpretation of the incumbent president’s tenure. The petition was submitted by an entrepreneur stating that the 19th Amendment to the Constitution is ambiguous.
“Will consider supporting Ranil for the presidential election if he leaves the UNP and joins the SLPP” – Kariyawasam
Divaina, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
General Secretary of the SLPP Sagara Kariyawasam stated that the party will consider supporting President Ranil Wickremesinghe for the upcoming presidential election if Wickremesinghe leaves the UNP and joins the SLPP. Kariyawasam added that the presidential candidate of the SLPP will be announced in due course.
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. “The president and his supporters are attempting to postpone the presidential election” – Sajith states in Batticaloa – Divaina, Virakesari, Thinakkural
2. “SriLankan Airlines will be restructured; it will not be sold to anyone; the Mattala International Airport will be handed over to a joint India-Russia venture” – Nimal Siripala de Silva – Lankadeepa, Ada, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
3. Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry makes request to Japan to recommence the halted projects – Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakaran