DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS
Tamil Headlines
Virakesari: TPA announces its support for Sajith Premadasa under an agreement with 48 demands | “Presidential candidate of the SLPP to be announced today” – Sagara Kariyawasam | Namal Rajapaksa to be nominated presidential candidate? | Pictorial: Leaders of TPA together show their support for Sajith Premadasa following the announcement
Thinakaran: Election field becomes heated; Dhammika Perera declines to contest; Namal Rajapaksa likely to be nominated? | “Bangladesh helped Sri Lanka at a time of need; let’s hope there’s tranquility in Bangladesh” – President
Thinakkural: “Thousands of Buddhist monks to gather to invite the presidential candidates to a particular place to hand over our proposals regarding the development of the country” – Ven. Gnanasara Thera | Has the Cabinet split? Bandula Gunawardane says ‘No’ | If Dhammika Perera is nominated presidential candidate, many more members of the SLPP will leave the party
Thamilan: Presidential Election 2024: Dhammika Perera declines to contest | 4,400 child abuse cases recorded during the first quarter of 2024; complaints on the need for childcare and child protection have increased
Sinhala Headlines
Lankadeepa: SLPP nominates Namal for the presidential election | Kokila apologises to Ravi and pays a compensation of Rs. 10,000 to cancer hospital
Divaina: The Opposition leader [of Bangladesh] freed from jail; parliament dissolved | We do not want a military government – Demonstrators
Ada: Namal named SLPP’s presidential candidate; Dhammika removes himself from the presidential race
Mawbima: SLPP’s candidate to be Namal instead of Dhammika; Dhammika informs Sagara via letter of his decision not to contest | Submarine-like gem mining machine discovered in Kaluganga valley, near Great Saman Temple, Ratnapura; suspects flee and hide in river as police attempt arrest
Dinamina: Dhammika declines: Is Namal SLPP’s candidate?
Aruna: Dhammika declines presidential candidacy: informs SLPP general secretary in writing
Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: Lanka News Web
“I will ensure the plantation workers obtain the salary increment” – Jeevan Thondaman
Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development Jeevan Thondaman stated that he is to hold a discussion with the Wages Board regarding the salary increment issue of plantation workers. He added that he will ensure the plantation workers obtain a reasonable salary for their work as he promised them. He further added that he was able to get the plantation workers paid a Rs. 1,000 daily wage on a previous occasion as he had promised, and that he is not doing politics by means of the salary issues of the plantation workers.
The second reading of the private bill of Sumanthiran passes
Thamilan
The second reading of the private member’s bill submitted by ITAK MP M.A. Sumanthiran, enabling the conduct of the provincial council elections under the existing system and enabling the functioning of the provincial councils under the same, was passed in parliament without debate or voting. It is expected that the said bill will be enacted by the third week of this month after being submitted for the third reading.
“A permanent solution to be found for the issue of fisherfolk” – Jaishankar
Thinakkural, Thinakaran
Minister of External Affairs of India S. Jaishankar stated that a permanent solution for the issue of fisherfolk will be found soon. He added that such a
solution will be found by holding a meeting between the delegations of India and Sri Lanka. He further added that such delegations representing both countries will comprise of four members from each country, and that action is also to be taken to release the arrested Indian fisherfolk and to bring them safely to India from Sri Lanka.
22 Tamil Nadu fisherfolk arrested
Thinakaran, Thinakkural
22 Indian fisherfolk from Tamil Nadu were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on Monday (5th). The said fisherfolk were arrested while they were engaged in fishing by encroaching into Sri Lankan waters. Thinakaran reports that the said fisherfolk were arrested in the sea area of Kuthiraimalaimunai, Mannar while Thinakkural reports that they were arrested in Kalpitiya North, Puttalam.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: Daily Mirror
Kokila apologises to Ravi
Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Divaina
SLPP MP Kokila Gunawardena appeared before the Colombo District Court yesterday (6th) and offered an unconditional apology if her remarks on a private TV channel’s political talk show were found to be offensive to former Minister Ravi Karunanayake. She also pledged a Rs. 10,000 donation to a cancer fund.
Ven. Muruththetuwe Ananda Thera, Ven. Athapaththukande Ananda Thera and Ven. Getamanne Gunananda Thera meet Mahinda and Basil Rajapaksa
Dinamina
Chief Incumbent of Narahenpita Abhayarama Ven. Dr. Muruththetuwe Ananda Thera, Chief Incumbent of Havelock City Temple Ven. Athapaththukande Ananda Thera and Getamanne Gunananda Thera met with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and SLPP founder Basil Rajapaksa on August 5. They requested that both leaders come together to support President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming presidential election. They praised President Wickremesinghe for revitalising the country and urged the leaders to make a decision with the nation’s best interests in mind.
“I would not have endorsed Ranil if he were contesting as a candidate from the UNP” – Amaraweera
Mawbima
Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries Mahinda Amaraweera stated at a press conference that one reason he endorsed President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming presidential election is that he is running as an independent candidate. Amaraweera added that he would not have endorsed Wickremesinghe if he were contesting as a candidate from the UNP.
“462 graduates have not accepted their appointments” – Premajayantha
Dinamina, Ada
Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha stated in parliament yesterday that the government had given teaching appointments to 1,700 graduates two weeks ago. However, 462 of them have not accepted the appointments. He questioned why graduates who express concerns about unemployment are not accepting the jobs
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS
Photo credits: LankaXpress
Dhammika declines presidential candidacy: Is Namal SLPP’s candidate?
Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Ada, Aruna, Divaina, Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
SLPP MP Dhammika Perera has informed the party’s General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam through a letter that he is withdrawing from the presidential candidacy. Reports indicate that the SLPP will officially announce its candidate at the Nelum Mawatha headquarters this morning (7th).
According to Mawbima, Ada, Aruna, Virakesari and Thamilan, internal sources suggest that MP Namal Rajapaksa is the likely nominee. Similarly, Dinamina and Thinakaran quote former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga as stating that Namal Rajapaksa is expected to be nominated. Lankadeepa also reports a statement from Basil Rajapaksa confirming that the SLPP Central Committee has decided to nominate Namal Rajapaksa as the party’s presidential candidate.
However, Divaina notes that there remains a possibility for Dhammika Perera to be nominated as the candidate.
TPA led by Mano Ganesan to support Sajith in the presidential election
Lankadeepa, Ada, Aruna, Divaina, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), under the leadership of MP Mano Ganesan, has pledged its support to the alliance known as the Samagi Jana Sandhanaya led by presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming presidential election. MP Ganesan, accompanied by TPA Deputy Leaders P. Thigambaram and V. Radhakrishnan, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalising their support for the alliance.
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Cash deposit placed for NPP’s Anura Kumara Dissanayaka to contest in the presidential election– Dinamina, Ada, Divaina, Mawbima, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran
2. Cabinet approval for 10% special interest rate for FDs of senior citizens – Dinamina, Ada, Divaina, Mawbima, Thinakaran
3. “The Provincial Council Election (Amendment) Bill is a ploy to get the votes of the TNA MPs” – Weerawansa – Divaina, Thinakkural, Virakesariilan