DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
|
Virakesari: Massive budgetary allocations for capital development projects; special allowance hikes for public sector employees and increase in personal income tax threshold | Budget is a mere illusion: no solutions for public grievances, alleges Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa | “Just empty rhetoric!” – Mano Ganesan accuses Thinakaran: Budget 2027: “Towards a transformative era from economic stability”! Tax cuts on essential goods; increase in public sector salaries and allowances! Special focus on development of Northern, Eastern, and Hill Country regions! | Five-hour budget speech by the president |
Thinakkural: This newspaper was unavailable at the time of publishing FrontPage Thamilan: Budget devoid of relief! Presented in parliament by President Anura | Clash among monks: hunger strike site turns into a bloodbath | [President] Anura delivers longest-ever budget speech, breaking Ravi’s record | New Anti-Terrorism Bill: Supreme Court directs enactment with simple majority |
Sinhala Headlines
|
Lankadeepa: A relief package for public servants: an allowance of Rs. 2,500 for pensioners; paper and exercise book tax removed; Teachers’ college student allowance increased by Rs. 10,000; Doctors’ DAT allowance increased by Rs. 25,000; Government executive officers’ transport allowance increased to Rs. 100,000; PAYE tax-free threshold to rise to Rs. 162,500; a tax of Rs. 10 on imported sugar; an allowance of Rs. 25,000 for university academics; President’s Budget speech lasts five hours Divaina: Allowances increased alongside tax reliefs: President presents the third budget; speech runs for five and a half hours; Daily food allowance increased for the police and tri-forces; Printing paper import tax removed; Grama Niladhari travel expense allowance increased by Rs. 4,000; Tax on sprats and Maldive fish reduced to Rs. 10 effective from today; Import tax on sugar increased by Rs. 10 to encourage local sugar production; VAT charged on exercise books and printed books removed; Personal income tax relief threshold raised from Rs. 150,000 to Rs. 162,500; Several major hospitals in Kandy, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Gampaha, and Avissawella brought under the central government; fine for wild elephant deaths increased from Rs. 500,000 to Rs. 1 million; Rs. 1,076 million allocated for the development of the Anuradhapura sacred area; Kidney and disability allowances increased to Rs. 12,500; A new management structure for the Peliyagoda Manning Market; Dried chilli taxes reduced by Rs. 50; Public sector salaries and allowances increased; Judicial allowances increased; Grade 13 students given the opportunity to enter the stock market
|
Dinamina: Budget 2027: Towards a transformative era of economic stability: Tax reliefs for numerous sectors; Taxes on several essential goods reduced starting from today; Public sector salaries increased; Allowances increased for doctors, police officers, university academics, prison officers, and Grama Niladharis; Five new trains for Sri Lanka next year – expenditure Rs. 5,000 million; 700,000 new houses for urban low-income earners; An AI centre on Wijerama Mawatha; fuel storage capacity increased up to 45 days; Smart meters for 300,000 consumers who use more than 180 electricity units; The 10% tax imposed on newsprint paper removed; Teachers’ college students’ allowance increased from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000; 600 new long-distance AC buses – 50 small buses for hill country routes – 200 buses for rural areas; Monthly allowance for persons with disabilities increased by Rs. 2,500; Exercise books and printed books exempted from VAT; Compensation amounts related to human-elephant conflicts increased: A new wildlife hospital in Nuwaragam Palatha; Rs. 250 million for short, medium, and long-term flood control plans; Rs. 8,500 million for the development of expressway-linked access roads Aruna: Budget 2027: A host of reliefs for public servants: Taxes reduced starting today on imported sprats, Maldive fish, and dried chillies; PAYE tax-free threshold increased; Exercise books and printed books exempted from VAT; A voucher of Rs. 7,500 for school students; Allowances for doctors and nurses increased; Food allowances for police officers increased; Relief for pensioners until the salary revision is implemented |