7 January 2025 | Vol. 11, #2

Thinakkural: “Digital ID card for Sri Lankans; dangerous if handed over to Indian company” – People’s Struggle Alliance writes to (Vijitha) Herath | “First 100 days [of the government] are failed; attempt to divert public (attention)” – SLPP | Conflict between the NPP and the JVP; opposition parties make use of the opportunity

Thamilan: “Fulfill public expectations” – President requests the attorney general; discussion focused on controversial cases | Special circular issued on diplomatic activities

Mawbima: Wattegama heats up with the death of famous fish vendor; suspect hands himself over to the police; the murder has taken place when the police had already been informed regarding the death threats [the vendor received]; a massive protest staged in town | 396 employees of the Land Reform Commission have been given 20-perch land plots for Rs. 20,000 each – Audit reveals information about land distribution

Dinamina: 637 vehicles seized by Customs have corroded; a plot of land with a rent of Rs. 41.8 million also rented to store said vehicles | Manusha Nanayakkara’s brother remanded till January 17 for committing fraud of Rs. 3 million after promising jobs abroad | The Grade 11 Sinhala paper for the North Central Province released on WhatsApp groups; exam halted

Aruna: Wattegama ablaze due to the death of fish vendor: anti-riot squad called; area residents stage protest along with the body of the victim

Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only

“Digital ID card for Sri Lankans; dangerous if handed over to Indian company” – People’s Struggle Alliance writes to Herath

Thinakkural

The People’s Struggle Alliance has written a letter to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath pointing out that the government’s decision to entrust the issuance of digital identity cards for Sri Lankan citizens to an Indian company poses an unavoidable threat to the sovereignty of the people and that India is carrying out a strategic intervention to subjugate Sri Lanka by obtaining people’s information.

Gajendrakumar to meet Shritharan and Selvam today | “Fullest support to the initiative to uniting Tamil parties” – DTNA

Virakesari

As part of the efforts to unite the Tamil Nationalist parties on the issue of drafting a new Constitution, All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam has decided to meet Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) MP Sivagnanam Shritharan and Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) MP Amirthanathan (Selvam) Adaikkalanathan in parliament today (7th) to set a date for the next round of talks.

Ponnambalam had recently expressed his position that the Tamil Nationalist parties should unite and speak out when the efforts to draft a new Constitution are being carried out.

Meanwhile, the DTNA stated that it has decided to extend its fullest support to the effort being made by Ponnambalam to unite the Tamil parties.

“Need a consensus between government and the Tamils with foreign mediation” – Prof. Raguram

Thinakkural

Prof. S. Raguram of the University of Jaffna stated that an internationally mediated agreement must be reached between the Tamil people of Eelam and the government, with a proper understanding and recognition of the fundamental principles of the Tamil people.

He added that only if such an opportunity arises will they be able to firmly present the issues that need to be addressed in a constructive new Constitution.

Photo credits: Ada Derana 

MPs have taken more money by giving false information to the President’s Fund – FCID says before the Magistrate

Lankadeepa, Dinamina

The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) of the Criminal Investigation Department filed a report before the Fort Magistrate yesterday (6th) stating that an investigation is being conducted into fraud committed by MPs pertaining to the Presidential Fund.

Accordingly, the legislators (MPs) have obtained more than the maximum amount of money approved from the Presidential Fund by presenting false information.

The police informed the Magistrate that an investigation had been launched in this regard based on information received by the CID.

The Magistrate ordered that the incident be investigated and reported to the court and ordered further to seek judicial assistance if required for the investigation.

Will support the drafting of a new Constitution if the aspirations of the Tamil people will be fulfilled – ITAK

Mawbima

The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) has announced that they are willing to fully support the new government’s initiative to draft a new Constitution if the political aspirations of the Tamil people are fulfilled.

Further, the Media Spokesperson of the ITAK, former MP M.A. Sumanthiran stated that the new government must start the drafting of the new Constitution immediately.

He added that the new government headed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had promised the drafting of a new Constitution and added further that they were informed that the process of doing so would commence soon.

Passports in crisis once again; deputy minister receives complaint

Aruna

Due to deficiencies in the passport tender process carried out by the Department of Immigration and Emigration, an additional fee of USD 1.50 has to be paid for each newly printed foreign passport.

Co-Convener of the National Union of Professional, Business and Civil Organizations, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa lodged a complaint with Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Sunil Watagala regarding the issue.

Photo credits: PMD

“It is a responsibility of the AG’s Department to confirm the confidence towards the judicial system” – President states before the AG

Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held a discussion with the Attorney General (AG) and officials from the Attorney General’s Department at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (6th).

The President emphasised the importance of coordinated efforts among all institutions working towards the effective enforcement of the law.

Dissanayake highlighted the critical responsibility of the AG’s Department in restoring public confidence in the judicial system.

President Dissanayake stressed that the public perception regarding political interference in the judicial system must be transformed to ensure trust in the legal process.

The Sinhala paper for the North Central Province term test has also leaked; students who came to sit for the exam turned away; this is the third paper that was leaked

Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thamilan

The Grade 11 Sinhala examination paper for the final term test of schools in the North Central Province was postponed due to some questions being leaked on social media.

Education Secretary to the North Central Province Sirimevan Dharmasena stated that some questions of the examination, scheduled to take place yesterday (6th), had been leaked on WhatsApp before the exam.

Around 22,000 students who were to sit for the examination were asked to return home following the cancellation of the examination.

The Education Ministry had received information that some tuition teachers in the Anuradhapura and Kurunegala areas had shared some questions of the exam paper with their students prior to the exam.

Common priorities: Additional stories