DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: Severe damage to prison records and buildings: The Mahara Prison riot brought under control; 20 inmates transferred to Boossa; the curfew lifted; thorough investigation underway | “The government unable to even manage prisons” – The opposition leader alleges | Negligence of government and officials alleged: The Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners challenges the authorities over the Mahara Prison unrest Thinakaran: The Mahara Prison [riot] brought under control; the curfew lifted; security heightened | Judges’ retirement: The attorney general approves the draft bill for the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution; the gazette notification soon | A special agreement signed to sell essential goods at low prices through co-operative societies | “Immediate solutions required for prison issues” – Namal Rajapaksa |
Thinakkural: Buildings torched, records destroyed: Massive destruction at the Mahara Prison leaves one inmate dead, six injured | “The Mahara Prison incident entirely different from the Negombo incident” – Harshana Nanayakkara | “Major risk to life in prisons” – Namal Rajapaksa warns | The Human Rights Commission has been urged to visit the Mahara Prison immediately and demand urgent intervention from the minister of justice | Security heightened across all prisons housing underworld gangs and drug syndicates Thamilan: Prisoner riot at the Mahara Prison: One dead, seven critically injured | “Altering the judges’ retirement age is an interference in judicial independence” – Sumanthiran | President Anura to meet the representatives of six Tamil-speaking political parties today: The key focus to be on land issues, provincial council elections, and a new constitution |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: The police, STF and tri-forces summoned to control the situation: The Mahara Prison under inmate control for 14 hours; one inmate dead in riot; eight hospitalised; 104 transferred to other prisons; kitchen, chief jailor’s office, hospital, and rehabilitation division destroyed; curfew imposed in three [grama niladari] divisions; relatives also protest Divaina: Major destruction at the Mahara Prison; one inmate dead; eight hospitalised; multiple prison buildings set on fire; “Oh, please do not harm our children” – relatives lament; an attempt by a group to escape by creating an unnecessary clash? 104 inmates transferred to Kalutara; Mahara now calm; the army, police and STF in a humanitarian operation
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Dinamina: Mahara peaceful; the clash controlled; one dead, six hospitalised; 104 inmates transferred to seven prisons; the clash caused by crackdown on drug trafficking; property, documents, and buildings also damaged; “A conspiracy suspected” – Minister Harshana Nanayakkara Aruna: Inmates’ riot destroys property worth Rs. 150 million at the Mahara Prison; an attempt made to blow up the main boiler as well; 6,500 security forces personnel deployed to control the situation |