DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS
Tamil Headlines
Virakesari: A discussion held between President [Anura Kumara Dissanayake] and Jaishankar | Photograph: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake meets India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
Thinakkural: Is Ranil trying to disrupt Anura’s visit to India? Suspicions on his recent visit to India; due to visit India again on December 22 | Competition for the post of speaker; opposition too to compete
Sinhala Headlines
Lankadeepa: 14 teachers who obtained teaching appointments using forged certificates, removed | Five more ministers and MPs to likely lose their “doctor” titles
Divaina: 75,000 kg of imported rice unfit for human consumption, returned
Ada: Is Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne the new speaker? The final verdict of the ruling party to be announced today
Mawbima: Is the next speaker from Polonnaruwa? Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne’s name also nominated; the opposition to also put forward a nomination | 27 more freed from the cyber camps in Myanmar
Dinamina: The president commences diplomatic discussions with India
Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES
“The election results cannot be taken into account when considering a solution for the Tamil people” – Adaikkalanathan
Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thamilan
Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) MP Amirthanathan (Selvam) Adaikkalanathan claimed that it is inappropriate to insist that others agree with the decisions taken by the ITAK just because it has won more seats in the general election. He added that the election results cannot be taken into account when considering a solution for the Tamil people. Adaikkalanathan further stated that many issues of the Tamil people remain unresolved and therefore, it is not possible for the other parties to support the decisions made on the ethnic issue by just one party. He also noted that it will be stronger and more powerful when all parties come to one table to discuss a plan for a solution as that would allow the duty of presenting any demands for the new constitution to be fulfilled.
“The government cannot be run on lies” – Sajith Premadasa
Thamilan, Virakesari, Thinakkural
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa stated that with the political changes that have taken place in the country, everyone is closely observing the situation to identify what kind of action plan and governance system is being implemented to build the country. He added, that however, when considering what the current leaders have said and done, a huge gap can be observed between their words and deeds. Premadasa claimed that the relief provided for the recent floods was just Rs. 40,000 although the leaders previously declared that it should be Rs.100,000. He further stated that the electricity price and prices of goods have not yet been reduced either.
Is Ranil trying to disrupt Anura’s visit to India? Suspicions on his recent visit to India; due to visit India again on December 22
Thinakkural
It has been suspected that certain actions were taken to disrupt President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to India amidst the backdrop of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to India, which was concluded prior to Dissanayake’s visit. At the same time, it is reported that Wickremesinghe will be visiting India again on December 22.
It is also reported that the president is due to face numerous challenges during his visit to India. Various issues were highlighted such as whether he would continue the agreements Wickremesinghe made with India, what agreements would be made with India, and whether the plans of Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, who holds the Western Terminal of the Colombo Port, would continue.
Who is going to be the leader of the ITAK? The final decision to be made on December 28
Thinakaran
ITAK MP Gnanamuththu Srineshan stated that he hopes that a final decision on the leadership of the ITAK would be made at the party’s central committee meeting scheduled to be held on December 28.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES
Is Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne the new speaker?
Lankadeepa, Ada, Mawbima
The Sinhala press speculated whether NPP MP Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne would be named the next speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. News reports claim that the NPP has decided to appoint Wickramaratne to the position that was left vacant with the resignation of NPP MP Asoka Ranwala as the speaker. Wickramaratne contested in the general election from the Polonnaruwa District and was placed second securing 51,391 votes.
“Sathosa goods to see a price reduction of 25% during the festive season” – Samarasinghe
Dinamina
Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that various institutions and individuals have intervened to create a shortage of goods in the country. Samarasinghe added that an increase in the prices of goods during the festive season is normal and added that he will take all measures required to alleviate the situation. Accordingly, he stated that the prices of goods and services at Sathosa will see a 25% reduction in the festive season.
“The security of former presidents was reduced following an assessment” – The police HQ
Dinamina
A senior official of the police headquarters stated that the decision to reduce the security of former presidents to 60 security personnel was made following a security assessment and not on a whim. The Police Media Division also issued a press release in this regard on December 13. According to the press release, out of the Rs. 1.1 billion that had been spent annually for the security of the former presidents, Rs. 326 million had been spent for the security of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa alone.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS
The president receives a warm welcome in India | The president commences diplomatic discussions with India | Anura and Modi to meet in Delhi today
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
President Anura Kumara Dissayanake is on his first diplomatic trip to India since being elected as president in September. Accordingly, Dissanayake will hold discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today (16th) in New Delhi on a range of issues, including trade, investment, energy, and maritime security. He has already met India’s Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar and India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval. The president who is on a three-day visit to India was warmly welcomed by India’s Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. S. Murugan and other diplomatic officials.
The opposition also suggests a name for the speaker’s position: “Can’t trust the next person [who will be appointed] from the NPP either” – Nalin Bandara
Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
SJB MP Nalin Bandara stated that the opposition will also suggest a name for the post of the speaker. He added that it would not be possible to trust the NPP’s next nominee either. Bandara further stated that although the opposition and the entire parliament placed their trust in the NPP and agreed to appoint former Speaker Asoka Ranwala to the position, that trust has now been broken by both Ranwala and the NPP. He noted that accordingly, Ranwala must not only resign from the post of the speaker but also as an MP.
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. 75,000 kg of imported rice unfit for human consumption, returned – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Dinamina Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran
2. Five acting ministers appointed in the president’s absence – Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thamilan
3. 17 Sri Lankans who ran into trouble in Israel, deported – Dinamina, Thinakaran, Thinakkural