DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS
Tamil Headlines
Virakesari: “SJB headed alliance signs an MOU | Ariyanenthiran named as the common Tamil presidential candidate | Pictorial: The members of the SJB headed alliance taking an oath during the MOU signing ceremony held yesterday
Thinakaran: Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi supports President Ranil Wickremesinghe | Another USD 590,000 for ‘Children of Gaza Fund’ handed over to the Palestinian government | Election Commission blocks the Rs. 3,000 pension payment | The ministry of Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe comes under the president; a gazette extraordinary released | “The decision to nominate a common Tamil candidate is useless” – Sumanthiran
Thinakkural: Ariyanenthiran named as the common Tamil presidential candidate | What happened to Dhammika Perera who was reported to be the presidential candidate? | Pictorial: The annual grand consecration festival of Nallur Kandaswamy Temple to be inaugurated today with the hoisting of the flag
Thamilan: Presidential Election 2024; Ariyanenthiran named as the common Tamil presidential candidate | “I will be the icon of Tamil nationalism” – Ariyanenthiran
Sinhala Headlines
Lankadeepa: Eight SLPP members (MPs) to leave the government due to Namal’s verdict | Former DIG Vaas given four year prison sentence for attacking student from Malabe; the son also sentenced to prison while the wife walks free | Pictorial: Ven. Galaboda Nahimi at the seven-day pinkama
Divaina: “Shot over being fined: Individual with no accusations killed; youth from Pugoda dies at Kotugoda checkpoint: Police officer injured; the youth had attempted to seize the gun of the police officer thinking that he was being written-up
Ada: The murder of businessperson Mohomad Siyam: The death sentence of six including former DIG Vaas confirmed; SC confirms HC’s death sentence verdict for six individuals including former DIG Vaas Gunawardena and his son Ravindu Vaas Gunawardena; five including Gunawardena and his son sentenced to four years imprisonment over the abduction of the IT student from Malabe; two accused police officers and Gunawardena’s wife acquitted and released | Emil Ranjan who received the death sentence for killing inmates at Welikada released
Mawbima: Two court verdicts confirmed against former DIG Vaas Gunawardena on the same day: Death sentence confirmed; four year imprisonment for abduction of the Malabe SLIIT student | Killing of the Welikada inmates: Former Prisons Commissioner Emil Ranjan Lamahewa acquitted and released
Dinamina:Pavithra [Wanniarachchi] to extend her support to Ranil: “It is a political decision that was made together with the party supporters of Ratnapura” – Wanniarachchi
Aruna: EC visits CEYPETCO to check whether fuel sheds are being given | Rs. 50,000 for a seat to watch the Kandy Perahera
Anidda: This paper was not available at the time of publishing FrontPage
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: Daily Mirror
“I will be the icon of Tamil nationalism” –Ariyanenthiran
Thinakkural, Thamilan
Former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP P. Ariyanenthiran stated that he will be the iconic figure of Tamil nationalism working towards the salvation of all Tamil people when he contests as the common Tamil candidate. He added that he is contesting in the presidential election only as an icon of Tamil nationalism in order to proclaim before the Southern region of Sri Lanka and the international community that the rights of the Tamil people must be given, and that he is not contesting to win the presidency of the country.
Publicise the evidence collected from the mass grave excavation –Families of missing persons
Thamilan, Thinakkural
Families of missing and disappeared persons have requested during the hearing of the case on the
Kokkuthoduwai mass grave issue that the reports issued regarding the mass grave in Kokkuthoduwai by the police forensic division must be submitted to court. They further claimed that the human remains that were retrieved from the said mass grave must be protected and that the evidence such as number plates, digits etc. must be published in the press by the registrar of the Magistrate’s Court of Mullaitivu.
“Britain cannot come to teach us” – Wimal Weerawansa
Virakesari, Thinakkural
SLPP MP Wimal Weerawansa stated that Britain magnifies the smallest issue in Sri Lanka, but it should pay attention to the attitude of apartheid
that prevails within its borders. He added that while Britain is concerned about democratic values in Sri Lanka, it must consider the apartheid
operations carried out in 2011 therein.
“The decision on the common Tamil candidate is useless” – Sumanthiran
Thinakaran
ITAK MP M.A. Sumanthiran stated that a common Tamil presidential candidate has been nominated and that it is a foolish decision since such a common Tamil candidate will potentially be defeated. He posted in his official X page that this is not an election one can use to send a message on Tamil issues and that this is not a referendum on the right of self-determination.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: The Island
Former health secretary and additional secretary granted bail
Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna
Maligakanda Additional Magistrate Lochani Abeywickrama granted bail to former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Sri Chandraguptha and Additional Secretary Saman Rathnayake considering the exceptional health conditions of the suspects. The two individuals together with four other suspects, including former Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella, were held in remand custody in connection with the purchase of substandard human immunoglobulin injection vials. The other four suspects including Rambukwella will be held in remand custody until August 22.
24 candidates have deposited bonds so far
Divaina, Ada, Aruna
So far, 24 candidates have deposited bonds to contest the 2024 Presidential Election. The Election Commission (EC) stated that bonds had been placed on behalf of two presidential candidates yesterday (8th). Among the candidates nominated for the presidential election, 11 are from registered political parties and 12 are names nominated by the public.
“No matter what alliances are formed, the aspirations of the people lie with the compass (NPP)” – Dissanayaka
Divaina
Leader of the NPP Anura Kumara Dissanayaka stated that many alliances are being formed to face the upcoming presidential election. Dissanayaka added that no matter how many alliances are formed, the people’s aspirations lie with the NPP. He further added that now the presidential battle is between a representative of the people and two sons of former presidents.
EC receives 154 election complaints within nine days – Election Commission
Dinamina
The Election Commission (EC) stated that 154 complaints of activities and incidents violating election laws have been reported to the EC within a duration of nine days from July 31 to August 8. The paper notes that 20 complaints were received in the 24 hours ending at 4.30 pm yesterday (8th) alone.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS
Photo credits: Daily Mirror
Samagi Jana Sandhanaya launched: Hakeem, Ganesan, Digambaram, Radhakrishnan, Alahapperuma, Peiris, Arjuna Ranatunga and Jayasekara to support Sajith
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
The official launch of the Samagi Jana Sandhanaya (SJS), the political alliance led by the SJB, was held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo yesterday (8th) under the theme “Samagi Ratak Samata Jayak” (a peaceful country, a victory for all). 10 political parties and groups have joined the alliance and will be supporting the Leader of the SJB and Opposition MP Sajith Premadasa at the upcoming presidential election as the candidate of the alliance. Accordingly, MP Dayasiri Jayasekara representing his faction of the SLFP, MP G.L. Peiris representing his faction of the SLPP, Leader of the TPA MP Mano Ganesan, Leader of the SLMC MP Rauff Hakeem, Leader of the National Union of Workers (NUW) Palani Digambaram, Leader of the Upcountry People’s Front (UPF) V. Radhakrishnan, Leader of the Freedom People’s Congress MP Dullas Alahapperuma and the Purawesi Handa of former MP Arjuna Ranatunga signed the official agreement of the alliance yesterday (8th).
A common Tamil candidate from seven parties in the North
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Former Tamil National Alliance MP P.Ariyanenthiran has been named as the common Tamil candidate for the upcoming presidential election. The announcement was made by the Tamil National Common Structure at an event held in Jaffna yesterday (8th). Ariyanenthiran will run as the representative of an alliance which includes seven Tamil political parties from the Northern and Eastern Provinces and various civil organisations. An agreement was signed previously by the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO), People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), Tamil United Political Front (TUPF), Tamil National Party and Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) to appoint a common Tamil candidate for the election.
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Pavithra [Wanniarachchi] to extend her support to Ranil: “It is a political decision that was made together with the party supporters of Ratnapura” – Wanniarachchi – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
2. Former DIG Vaas given four year prison sentence for attacking student from Malabe: The son also sentenced to prison while the wife walks free – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
3. Killing of the Welikada inmates: Former Prisons Commissioner Emil Ranjan Lamahewa acquitted and released – Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thamilan