DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS
Tamil Headlines
Virakesari: Namal Rajapaksa nominated as presidential candidate | An MOU signed between Sajith Premadasa and Dayasiri Jayasekara; consensus reached on 25 demands | “I have proven myself; people will accept my way” – President | “We will announce by 14th whom we will support” – Rishad Bathiudeen
Thinakaran: “Make a decision for the sake of the future of the country aside from the future of the candidates” – President | “Changes will be made in the IMF agreement” – Harsha de Silva
Thinakkural: “No candidate is a challenge for me in the upcoming presidential election” – President | A new twist in the presidential election due to the withdrawal of Dhammika Perera; Namal Rajapaksa comes to contest | Basil Rajapaksa leaves the country for U.S.A again
Thamilan: “No one can compete with me” – President | Polling stations to be increased – Election Commission | “Chinese army in the Northern and Eastern Provinces” – Selvam Adaikkalanathan | Namal Rajapaksa nominated for the contest | Sri Lankan cricket’s achievement against India after 27 years
Sinhala Headlines
Lankadeepa: Who will they endorse in the presidential election? Rishad and Champika still on the fence
Divaina: “We accepted the challenge. We will win. Those who left, do return” – Namal, who has taken on the responsibility of the presidential election, says | Gotabaya, Shasheendra, Chamal and Dhammika did not attend the occasion | “Aragalaya (the struggle) asked for a young man; we gave them a young man” – Mahinda Rajapaksa | Sajith receives the support of the SLFP and the Freedom People’s Congress: Sajith and Dayasiri sign an MOU | “Sajith is the motherland’s key to success” – Dayasiri Jayasekara
Ada: “34 programs initiated at a cost of Rs. 63.7 billion have become places where only bats live” – Mannapperuma
Mawbima: Travel ban for doctor who got property worth Rs. 180 million from the suspect involved in ONMAX DT pyramid scam | An investigation into how this doctor got all this money | “Arrest Lalkantha who stated that he attempted a parliament take over” – Gammanpila | “Go [complain] to the police instead of threatening in parliament” – Lalkantha
Dinamina:“We will amend the IMF agreement” – De Silva | “Other candidates are contesting to secure their future; I contest to secure the country’s future. I’ve never defended those accused of corruption… Not a single benchmark of the IMF agreement can be changed” – President
Aruna: “After sending Gota home, what we wanted was to surround the parliament” – Lalkantha | “If they had done that back then, the country would still be burning today” – Gammanpila
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: Tamil Guardian
“Is the government attempting to establish the Chinese army?” – Selvam Adaikkalanathan
Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
ITAK MP Selvam Adaikkalanathan highlighted that information has been received that attempts have been initiated to establish the Chinese army in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. He added that his party will never give room for such an initiative. He also questioned whether the government permits the emergence of the Chinese army in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
“Talking about the TPA is a time-wasting matter” – President
Thamilan, Virakesari
President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) had already decided to support Sajith Premadasa, and at present is giving various reasons to justify such a decision. He further noted that he had asked the TPA to join and work with him, but talking about the TPA at present is a time-wasting matter.
“Government authorities breach the order of the court” – Rauff Hakeem
Virakesari, Thamilan
SJB MP Rauff Hakeem stated that there is a likelihood of a heist to take place through the visa issuance to foreign tourists through the VFS agency. He added that the Supreme Court has made an injunction order against the issuance of such visas through VFS, but the respondents of the case who are the controller general of the
Department of Immigration and Emigration and the secretary of the relevant line ministry are acting in breach of that order. He also cautioned that they will be sued if they continue breaching the order of the court.
Number of polling stations to be increased – Election Commission
Thinakaran, Thamilan
Election Commissioner General Saman Sri Rathnayake stated that a need has arisen to increase the polling stations during the upcoming presidential election. He added that the number of voters has increased in comparison to the previous elections, and that therefore the polling stations are also expected to be increased this time.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: www.moj.gov.lk
Ministry of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms brought under president
Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Divaina
Leader of the NPP Anura Kumara Dissanayaka stated that most of the MPs who are said to be forming an alliance with the SJB on August 8 had sought to join the NPP but were rejected due to their bad political history. Dissanayaka added that they refused to align with these MPs because the NPP does not want to take anyone who has raised their hands and supported wrong decisions which resulted in the destruction of the country. Dissanayaka made the statement at a farmers’ rally in Bulnewa, Anuradhapura.
““After sending Gota home, what we wanted was to surround the parliament” – Lalkantha | “Arrest Lalkantha. If they had done that back then, the country would still be burning today” – Gammanpila
Dinamina, Mawbima, Aruna
NPP member K.D. Lalkantha stated that while the Galle Face protests successfully ousted Gotabaya Rajapaksa, their efforts to leverage the uprising for parliamentary reform were unsuccessful. He pointed out that attempts to redirect the movement towards parliament were obstructed, allowing parliament to restore the status quo and thus render Gotabaya’s removal ineffective. In response, MP Udaya Gammanpila called for Lalkantha’s immediate arrest under criminal law for his comments regarding the parliamentary takeover. Lalkantha challenged Gammanpila to file a police complaint instead of making threats in parliament.
“The increase in foreign reserves is not a feat by Ranil Wickremesinghe” – Herath
Divaina
NPP MP Vijitha Herath stated in parliament yesterday (7th) that the increase in foreign reserves is not a result of Ranil Wickremesinghe’s achievements. He pointed out that over 600,000 people left the country between 2022 and 2023, and it is their remittances that have contributed to the rise in foreign reserves, not any economic accomplishment by the government.
“Long ballot paper with multiple names may confuse voters” – Anunayake of the Malwatte Chapter
Dinamina
The Anunayake of the Malwatte Chapter Ven. Dimbulkumbure Wimaladhamma Thera expressed concern that 18 individuals, including some unknown to the public, have unnecessarily lengthened the ballot paper by registering for the presidential election. He questioned why candidates who are unlikely to secure even 1,000 votes would choose to run. The thera noted that this situation would not only increase printing costs but also create significant inconvenience for voters as they try to make their selections.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS
Photo credits: Newsfirst.lk
SLPP names Namal Rajapaksa as it’s presidential candidate
Dinamina, Mawbima, Lankadeepa, Ada, Aruna, Divaina, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser MP Namal Rajapaksa has been announced as the party’s candidate for the 2024 Presidential Election. The decision was revealed yesterday morning (7th) by SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam during a special ceremony at the party headquarters.
Reports in Mawbima, Lankadeepa, Ada, Divaina and Virakesari highlight Namal Rajapaksa’s commitment to winning the presidential election and his appeal for former SLPP members to return.
Ada and Divaina also cover remarks by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who stated that while Ranil Wickremesinghe is a strong opponent, Namal Rajapaksa is even more formidable. He noted that the party has now responded to the aragalaya’s (the struggle) call for a young leader.
“Other candidates are contesting to secure their future; I contest to secure the country’s future” – President
Dinamina, Mawbima, Ada, Aruna, Divaina, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
Speaking at a meeting with media heads in Colombo yesterday (7th), President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasised that while other candidates might pursue the presidential election driven by personal ambitions, he is running to secure the future of the country and its people. Commenting on Sri Lanka’s agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other creditors, he cautioned that altering agreements could endanger financial support and lead to another economic collapse, adding that these terms are non-negotiable and crucial for receiving the necessary funds.
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Samagi Jana Sandhanaya set to be launched today: The SLFP’s Dayasiri faction signed an MOU with the SJB yesterday, while the Freedom People’s Congress led by Dullas Alahapperuma will sign an MOU today – Mawbima, Lankadeepa, Ada, Divaina, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thamilan
2. “We will amend the IMF agreement” – De Silva – Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakaran
3. Government decides to pay Rs. 3,000 allowance to pensioners despite Election Commission’s instructions – Dinamina, Ada, Thinakaran