DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS
Tamil Headlines
Virakesari: 39 candidates in the [election] race; EC rejects three objections | Pictorial: Ranil
Wickremesinghe, Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, Sajith Premadasa and Namal Rajapaksa filing their nominations
Thinakaran: Presidential Election 2024; 39 nominations filed
Thinakkural: 39 candidates are ready for the presidential race on September 21 | Most candidates ever in the history of the contest this time | This election has special features | Three members of Rishad Bathiudeen’s party support Ranil Wickremesinghe
Thamilan: 39 candidates contest for the presidency | Presidential Election 2024. Pictorials: Ranil Wickremesinghe, Dilith Jayaweera, P. Ariyanenthiran, Sajith Premadasa, Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, Sarath Fonseka and Namal Rajapaksa filing their nominations
Sinhala Headlines
Lankadeepa: 39 for the presidential race
Divaina: 39 candidates submit nominations for the presidential race
Ada: 39 for the presidential race: 23 from political parties, 16 independent candidates | Ballot paper costs and time required to cast and count votes both expected to increase
Mawbima: 39 on the racetrack: The battle begins | No slanderous attacks against the candidates – Election Commission
Dinamina:39 candidates for the presidential race; three objections rejected | Two monks among the candidates
Aruna: 39 enter the ring to become president: Tamil and Muslim common candidates among them
Anidda: One million votes in the North-East: To Sajith Premadasa? Or the common Tamil candidate? |Internal conflict in the ITAK
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: Daily Mirror
“I am contesting to reflect the unity of the Tamil people” – Ariyanenthiran
Virakesari
Common Tamil presidential candidate P. Ariyanenthiran stated that he is contesting in the presidential election not targeting victory. He added that he is contesting as the common Tamil candidate to show the unity of the Tamil people as a strength of the Tamil people before the Sri Lankan government and the international community. He further added that the Tamil National Common Structure seeks the cooperation of the Tamil people of Sri Lanka for this effort.
“Let’s gather together as the Tamil race irrespective of party orientation” – Wigneswaran
Thinakkural
Thamil Makkal Thesiya Kuttani (TMTK) MP C.V. Wigneswaran has appealed to the Tamil people to lobby as one in support of the common Tamil candidate from today onwards till September 21. He further appealed that the Tamil people must prove their distinctive identity by supporting the common Tamil candidate by working together irrespective of party orientation. He emphasised that the Tamil National Common Structure expects to secure a minimum of 600,000 votes for the common Tamil candidate.
“Velu Kumar is a Kandy donkey who joined the lame horse named Ranil Wickremesinghe” – Mano Ganesan rages
Thamilan
SJB MP Mano Ganesan stated that it is simple to predict the background of why the Kandy donkey Velu Kumar has joined the lame horse Ranil Wickremesinghe. He added that MP Velu Kumar has been removed from the party membership and alliance membership with immediate effect, according to the decision taken by the leadership committees of the Democratic People’s Front (DPF) and the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA).
Sri Lanka welcomes Canada’s decision to extend the ban on the LTTE
Thinakkural, Thinakaran
The Government of Sri Lanka welcomes the decision of the Government of Canada to retain the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) along with the World Tamil Movement (WTM) as terrorist entities. This decision has been taken following a rigorous review process, which reaffirmed the continued threat posed by these organisations. The Government of Canada first listed the LTTE as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code on April 6, 2006, and it is a statutory requirement to undertake a review every five years. The latest review process concluded in June 2024.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: NewsWire
One million votes in the North and the East: To Sajith Premadasa? Or the common Tamil candidate? |Internal conflict in the ITAK
Anidda
There are reports of internal conflict in the ITAK regarding which candidate to support in the presidential election. A meeting of party leaders was held on August 11, but no consensus was reached. Proposals included backing the common Tamil candidate P. Ariyanenthiran, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa or President Ranil Wickremesinghe
Maithri faction of the SLFP to support Sajith Premadasa
Anidda
According to reports, the SLFP faction led by former President Maithripala Sirisena, which was originally set to back Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe in the presidential election, will now support Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. This decision was made during two recent SLFP meetings in Kelaniya and Colombo where it was also noted that Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe had deceived the party
“ITAK will support the candidate who solves the challenges faced by the people in the North and East” –Rasamanickam
Anidda
ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam stated that the party intends to endorse a presidential candidate who provides a political solution to the challenges faced by the people in the North and East, but noted that a final decision [on whom to support] has not yet been made.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS
Photo credits: LinkedIn
39 candidates submit nominations
Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Ada, Aruna, Divaina, Mawbima, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
The Election Commission has announced that 39 candidates who submitted their nominations on the morning of the 15th will be competing in the 2024 Presidential Election. Out of the 40 candidates who made their cash deposits, 39 submitted their nominations yesterday. After these nominations were accepted, the commission received three objections. Upon reviewing them, the commission members unanimously decided to reject all three in accordance with the election law.
Three of the four ACMC MPs pledge support to the president
Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Ada, Divaina, Mawbima, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran
Three out of the four MPs from the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) have decided to endorse President Ranil Wickremesinghe for the upcoming presidential election. At a special press conference, MPs Ishak Rahuman, Ali Sabri Raheem and S.M.M. Muszhaaraff, representing Rishad Bathiudeen’s ACMC, made this announcement.
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. SJB MP M. Velu Kumar announces his support for the president – Dinamina, Mawbima, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
2. “No matter what happens, we will not rope in people using money as bait and will not allow such people to work with us. We do not have such people on my side” – Premadasa – Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran
3. “Give me the mandate to advance the progress of this nation, rebuilt with great effort, toward a prosperous tomorrow” – Wickremesinghe – Dinamina, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran