DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS
Tamil Headlines
Virakesari: “We will support the candidate who accepts a federal system” – Sumanthiran | “The candidate we support will win” – Rishad Bathiudeen | “The SLMC is not demanding a seat from the national list; it is suitable to give it to Hirunika Premachandra” – Nizam Kariapper | Wijith Wijayamunai Zoysa to support President Ranil Wickremesinghe
Thinakaran: “The right to live in the village for those living in line rooms to be granted for the first time in the history of the country; leases given to the line rooms to be cancelled and the lands to be acquired by the government; a conference on social justice for the Hill Country Tamil people in 2025” – The president announces during a meeting with the business community and academics in Nuwara Eliya | “Election monitoring activities: Approval granted to Commonwealth countries and EU organisations” – The Election Commission | Wijith Wijayamunai Zoysa, Wimalaweera Dissanayake and Vadivel Suresh to support Ranil Wickremesinghe
Thinakkural: “The Tamil National Common Structure will not meet the president” – Suresh Premachandran | The ITAK bans P. Ariyanenthiran and calls for an explanation | “We will support the candidate who provides a federal solution for the joint North and East” – Sumanthiran
Thamilan: “The Election Commission is ready to conduct unannounced raids in government institutions; government resources cannot be utilised for election activities” – R.M.A.L. Rathnayake | “Permission granted to international organisations for election monitoring activities” – R.M.A.L. Rathnayake | “The manifestoes of the candidates are important when extending the support of the ITAK” – Sumanthiran | Presidential election 2024: Nominations to be submitted this week
Sinhala Headlines
Lankadeepa: Strict security measures for nominations day: Presidential candidates to be given STF protection | Weapons haul of a drug dealer found in a bunker in a prison guard’s house
Divaina: Weapons haul of Gotha Asanka found in a prison guard’s house; Gotha Asanka and the prison guard believed to be childhood friends; had supplied weapons for contracted murders; millions found in bank accounts
Ada: The computer system of the Excise Department sees no progress; Rs. 100 million allocated for the task in 2022 to no avail; nothing has been done yet even though the same amount was allocated in 2023
Mawbima: A haul of weapons in a bunker of a prison guard’s house in Rajagiriya ; a T56 firearm and a gun also found | The chief justice of Bangladesh resigns amidst student protests: Five Supreme Court judges also resign
Dinamina:“The final decision on increasing the plantation workers’ salary to Rs.1,700 to be made today; will even introduce new laws if necessary and increase the wages. Seven companies are already in favour of the move” – The president
Aruna: The secretary who ordered the increased pensions to be paid, questioned
Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: The Island
“The candidate we support will win” – Rishad Bathiudeen
Thinakaran, Virakesari, Thamilan
SJB MP Rishad Bathiudeen stated that the presidential candidate his party, the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), supports will win the upcoming presidential election. He added that the ACMC will announce the candidate it will support in the presidential election on Wednesday (14th).
“We will support the candidate who provides a federal solution for the joint North and East” – Sumanthiran
Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
ITAK MP M.A. Sumanthiran stated that his party will extend its support to the presidential candidate whose manifesto provides a political solution under a federal system to the joint Northern and Eastern Provinces. He added that this decision would be taken as his party’s primary objective is to establish a federal system in the joint North and East region for the devolution of power.
“The Tamil National Common Structure will not meet Ranil Wickremesinghe” – Suresh Premachandran
Thinakkural
General Secretary of the Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) and Tamil National Common Structure Member Suresh Premachandran stated that the Tamil National Common Structure will not meet President Ranil Wickremesinghe. He added that they received an invitation from the Presidential Secretariat for a meeting on Monday (12th) between the president and the Tamil National Common Structure. Premachandran clarified that however, the Tamil National Common Structure had not been informed of the reason for the meeting even though it had inquired about it and thus, the organisation has decided not to attend the meeting without prior preparation..
The ITAK suspends P. Ariyanenthiran and calls for an explanation
Thinakaran, Thinakkural
ITAK MP M.A. Sumanthiran stated that his party has decided to call for an explanation from its central committee member, former TNA MP P. Ariyanenthiran as to why he has been announced as the common Tamil presidential candidate without the permission of the party. He added that Ariyanenthiran will be given one week to submit an explanation to the party and that he will not be invited to any party events until then.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: Sunday Observer
“The final decision on increasing the plantation workers’ wages to Rs.1,700 to be made today; will even introduce new laws if necessary and increase the wages. Seven companies are already in favour of the move” – The president
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna
President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that the final decision on increasing the daily wage of the plantation workers to Rs. 1,700 will be made today (12th). The president stated that currently, seven plantation companies have expressed their agreement with the government’s decision regarding the daily wage increment. Wickremesinghe added that he will convene the Wages Board today (12th) in his role as the labour minister and discuss the matter further. He emphasised that if necessary, he will introduce new and special laws to implement this decision.
The CID launches investigations on illegal website similar to the EC website
Divaina, Dinamina
The CID and the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team have launched investigations regarding a fake and illegal website similar to the website of the Election Commission (EC). The EC added that various posts in this regard are being exchanged on social media. Issuing a notice, the commission also urged the public to avoid visiting such fake websites and circulating the information published on them.
“I am not supporting anyone” – CBK
Lankadeepa
Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga stated that she will not be supporting any candidate that will be contesting in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. The former president made the statement in response to proposals made by SLFP members to extend the party’s support to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.
“Preliminary printing work for the presidential election has commenced” – The government printer
Ada
Government Printer Gangani Liyanage announced that the preliminary printing work for the presidential election has commenced. She added that the ballots will be printed after the nominations have been accepted. Liyanage further stated that the government has provided funds for the printing that has already been completed.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS
Photo credits: Daily FT
Sudarshani Fernandopulle to support Sajith
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
Gampaha District SLPP MP Sudarshini Fernandopulle has decided to extend her support to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in the 2024 presidential election. Speaking to the media, Fernandopulle stated that she decided to support Premadasa because she believes that he has a capable and experienced team to serve the country, especially when compared to other candidates and groups taking part in the election.
“An additional cost of Rs. 200 million for each name that will be added to the ballot paper” – The EC
Dinamina, Thinakaran
Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake stated that for every new candidate running for the presidential election, an additional cost of Rs. 200 million would be spent on adding the name of each of those candidates to the ballot paper. Ratnayake added that if the number of candidates exceeds 36, the ballot papers will have to be printed in two rows. According to calculations, the cost of the election will amount to around Rs. 10 billion and the commissioner general added that the overall expenses for the election will increase this year due to the rise in certain expenses.
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Roshan Ranasinghe enters the presidential battle – Ada, Mawbima, Virakesari
2. A new political alliance by the SLPP MPs who support Ranil – Ada , Mawbima, Thinakkural
3. Grama niladharis to launch a “black protest” week – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Aruna, Thamilan