Newswire
DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: “U.S. tariffs to be reduced by 15%; will be done strategically” – Opposition MP Harsha de Silva | Compensation for May 9 violence: The petition filed seeking investigation to be considered | Protest in Colombo demanding justice for Chemmani; tension arose as protesters attempted to march towards the Presidential Secretariat Thinakaran: Compulsory retirement of nurses at age 60; Supreme Court upholds previous government’s decision | “Nothing can be released before the U.S. tariff talks areconcluded” – Anil Jayantha | 500 small tea estates to improve tea quality | 2,000 megawatts of solar power in five years; project through regional and international collaborations |
Thinakkural: A Buddhist nation? A nation of graves?; the Chemmani protest also reached Colombo; tension arose as the police stopped the demonstration | A well-known minister to be arrested soon? | “Bimal and Wasantha Samarasinghe should be arrested” – Udaya Gammanpila | “India’s puppet government exists in Sri Lanka” –Wimal Weerawansa strongly criticises Thamilan: “No politics in new education reform; history, aesthetics subjects are mandatory!” – Prime Minister Harini announces categorically |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Pensions paid for 174 wives and seven children of former ministers: Rs. 2.18 billion to pay pensions for seven years Divaina: Remove the STF from Boossa: Petition filed by Midigama Ruwan | “The intention behind the petition is to make the Boossa Prison a centre for operating crime” – AG Ada: Indictments served against Keheliya Rambukwella and the whole family for acquiring money over Rs. 90 million through unlawful means |
Mawbima: Midigama Ruwan filed petition at the appeals court seeking to remove the STF from the Boossa Prison | Three CIs in Matara suspended over visiting a “Spa” Dinamina: Supreme Court sets date to hear petition seeking recovery of Rs. 1.22 billion taken as compensation by ministers under the guise of the aragalaya Aruna: LG councils that fail to elect a chair and vice chair to be placed under the authority of the commissioner of local Government Anidda: President gives 35-year tax concessions to four companies in the Port City |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Newswire
Protest in Colombo demanding justice for Chemmani; tension arose as protesters attempted to march towards the Presidential Secretariat
Thamilan, Thinakkural, Virakesari
The People’s Power for Justice and other civil society organisations held a protest in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station yesterday (17th), demanding justice for the Chemmani mass graves under the theme ’Let’s rise against the Chemmani social massacre’. An argument broke out between protesters and the police after officers blocked their attempt to march towards the Presidential Secretariat. Police officials stated that no permission had been granted for the demonstration, while protesters – including Ceylon Teachers’ Union Secretary Joseph Stalin – insisted it was a peaceful march for justice. Protesters, who held placards demanding the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and truth about Northern and Eastern mass graves, questioned how justice could be expected from the government when peaceful demonstrations are obstructed.
“U.S. tariffs to be reduced by 15%; will be done strategically” –
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“Ruling-party MPs are wasting time” – Gajendrakumar expresses strong displeasure
Thinakkural All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) MP |
“India’s puppet government exists in Sri Lanka“ –Wimal Weerawansa strongly criticises
Thinakkural
National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa has urged the public to boycott the new electronic identity card, which he claims is being introduced through the intervention of the “Indian-backed puppet regime“ of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Speaking at a press conference, Weerawansa warned that awarding the manufacturing contract to an Indian company creates a danger of citizens’ personal information being leaked to a third party.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Hiru News
Owner of the Hambantota bird park remanded
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Dinamina, Aruna
The owner of a bird park in Nagarawawa, Hambantota, who was arrested yesterday (17th) by a special police team for allegedly concealing illegally imported motorcycles in a warehouse, was remanded. He was remanded until July 25 by the Hambantota Magistrate’s Court. On July 12, police officers attached to the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) took custody of 21 illegally imported motorcycles found inside a storage facility of the bird park in Hambantota. The raid was carried out by a team of officers, including Director of the CCIB Superintendent of Police (SP) Kamal Ariyawansa, based on special information received by the acting IGP.
Remove the STF from Boossa: Petition filed by Midigama Ruwan | “The intention behind the petition is to make the Boossa Prison a centre for operating crime” – AG
Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Aruna The Court of Appeal yesterday (17th) stated that the decision on whether to proceed with a petition filed by J.A. Ruwan Kumara, also known as Midigama Ruwan, who is said to be a leader of an underworld gang, will be announced on September 1. The petition seeks an order to remove officers of the Police Special Task Force (STF) from duties at the Boossa High-Security Prison. Additional Solicitor General Shanil Kularatne, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General (AG), requested the court to dismiss the petition at the preliminary stage. He added that the intention behind the petition was to turn the Boossa Prison into a centre for operating crime. |
“Permanent addresses to be given to estate workers with no permanent addresses” – AG informs the SC
Dinamina The Attorney General (AG) informed the Supreme Court yesterday (17th) that the government has taken steps to provide permanent addresses to a group of estate workers who have so far been without fixed addresses. This information was given by the deputy solicitor general, appearing on behalf of the AG, during the hearing of a fundamental rights petition filed by Jeevarathnam Suresh Kumar, a resident of the Muwan Kanda estate in Mawathagama, Kurunegala, requesting an order to instruct authorities to provide postal addresses to himself and other estate workers. |
President gives 35-year tax concessions to four companies in the Port City
Anidda
TPresident Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as the minister of finance, planning and economic development, has reportedly given tax concessions lasting 35 years to four companies in the Colombo Port City. This applies to all income tax, withholding tax on distributed dividends and import duties. The following companies have accordingly been granted the above mentioned tax concessions: Ceylon Real Estate Holdings (Private) Limited, Clothespin Management and Development (Private) Limited, IFC Colombo 1 (Pvt.) Limited and ICC Port City (Private) Limited.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: AsianMirror
43 allegations: Keheliya’s family served indictments
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thamilan
Indictments were served on former Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella, his wife Kusum Priyadarshini Epa, their three daughters and son-in-law on charges of unlawfully acquiring assets. The indictments were served before Colombo High Court by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) under 43 charges. The defendants were later ordered to be released on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 and two surety bails of Rs. 1 million each. The High Court judge also imposed a travel ban on the defendants and ordered them to handover their passports to the court.
Supreme Court sets date to hear petition seeking recovery of Rs. 1.22 billion taken as compensation by ministers under the guise of the aragalaya
Ada, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thamilan
A Fundamental Rights (FR) petition has been filed seeking an order to recover public funds that were allegedly paid unlawfully as compensation by the previous government to a group including ministers. These payments were made for damages caused to houses and properties of politicians by arson and destruction following the attacks on the ‘Gota Go Gama’ protest site at Galle Face in 2022 and the subsequent wave of violent incidents across the country. The Supreme Court yesterday (17th) scheduled the petition to be taken up for consideration on November 13. The petition also requests that an order be issued to the Minister of Public Security, the secretary of that ministry, the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Attorney General (AG) to conduct an investigation into the alleged misuse of public funds in the payment of compensation to the group including ministers.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. “History, aesthetics and vocational subjects to be made compulsory under new education reforms” – Prime Minister – Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Thamilan
2. Allegations levelled against Gary Anandasangaree for helping an LTTE member in Canada gain citizenship – Lankadeepa, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran
3. Shah Ruk Khan will not be coming to Sri Lanka – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
4. Wax museum at the Ehelepola walawwa declared open – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakaran
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