DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS
Tamil Headlines
Virakesari: More than 92 MPs support Ranil Wickremesinghe | “Nominating a candidate is a family decision; our support is for Ranil Wickremesinghe” – Premitha Bandara Tennakoon | Pictorial: Annual gold chariot festival of Sri Sivasubramaniam Temple, Kompanna Veediya held yesterday
Thinakaran: 92 MPs pledge support to Ranil Wickremesinghe in person
Thinakkural: The efforts of Ranil Wickremesinghe to obtain the support of the SLPP will continue until the last minute; otherwise he may reportedly take action to dissolve parliament | A general election within 53 days? – A powerful minister reports | 92 MPs met Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday
Thamilan: Election Commission instructs the president to take immediate action on the issue of the IGP appointment | SLPP scatters; 92 MPs surrender to Ranil Wickremesinghe | “Only Ranil Wickremesinghe possesses clear projects” – Bandula Gunawardana
Sinhala Headlines
Lankadeepa: SLPP decision splits the party in two: 92 MPs that attended the government meeting to support Ranil; the Rajapaksas on a separate team | A block of concrete at the Monaragala Hospital falls into the children’s ward; five children and three mothers injured
Divaina: We will render our support to you – 92 MPs tell the president | Solve the IGP issue immediately – EC writes to the secretary to the president
Ada: Support of 92 government party MPs to be given to Ranil
Mawbima: Solve the IGP issue – EC writes to the president | 92 MPs come forward in support of Ranil
Dinamina: 92 MPs to support Ranil | “The budget deficit has decreased by 63.8% compared to last year” – Siyambalapitiya | “A special meeting on the IGP issue with the Speaker following his arrival” – President decides
Aruna: Appoint an acting IGP – EC writes to the president | Some people use Bandula’s [Gunawardena] credit card to purchase items | The minister [Bandula Gunawardena] has not gone to the police
Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: Sri Lanka Mirror
“Planters’ association agrees to pay Rs. 1,500 to plantation workers” – A.P. Sakthivel
Thinakkural
National Organiser of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) and former member of the Central Provincial Council A.P. Sakthivel stated that the planters’ association has agreed to pay a basic wage of Rs. 1,350 together with an allowance of Rs. 150 to the plantation workers. He added that the planters’ association has also agreed to enter into a joint agreement in this regard so that plantation workers will be able to receive a total daily wage of Rs. 1,500.
A general election within 53 days? – A powerful minister reports
Thinakkural
A powerful minister from the SLPP is reported to have informed his employees to be prepared to remove his belongings that are in his ministry. It is also reported that the said minister has so instructed his employees mentioning that a general election is to come definitely within 53 days and that they should be prepared to make the necessary arrangements for it from the same day itself.
India increases the funds for the development of schools in the Hill Country
Thinakaran
The Government of India has agreed to double the funds for the infrastructure development activities of the schools in the estate areas. India had already agreed to provide Rs. 300 million, but the amount has presently been increased by India to a provision of Rs. 600 million. As such, the Cabinet has also approved the proposal submitted by Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha, enabling the placing of signatures on behalf of the government in the relevant documents.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: Daily Mirror
Cabinet once again grants approval for importation of eggs
Divaina, Ada, Dinamina
The Cabinet has approved the importation of eggs with the aim of stabilising market egg prices during the upcoming Ramadan and Christmas seasons. The proposal presented by Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security Nalin Fernando was thus approved by the Cabinet. In pursuance of the decision of the Cabinet made on March 18, 2024, a total of 224 million eggs have been imported by the Government of Sri Lanka.
“Coming [to a conference] in uniform is in accordance with the law” – Dissanayaka
Divaina, Aruna
Leader of the NPP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayaka stated that the All Ceylon Nurses’ Conference affiliated to the JVP did not violate election laws in any way. He made the statement in a discussion on a private television channel. Dissanayaka added that he saw President Ranil Wickremesinghe visiting a school where the children were wearing uniforms, and talked about politics. He questioned how nurses wearing their uniforms (which is in accordance with the law) to the conference was different to the children wearing uniforms. He finally added that a large number of nurses participated, and had done so with great enthusiasm and hope.
“Most complaints received have been regarding the misuse of state property” – PAFFREL
Mawbima
Executive Director of the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Rohana Hettiarachchi stated that a large number of complaints regarding the violation of the election laws are being received. He added that out of these complaints, many are of the misuse of state property for election campaigns. Hettiarachchi further added that about 20 complaints have already been made in this regard so far.
USD 1,118 million income from exporting tea, rubber, coconut, cinnamon and pepper within four months
Dinamina
The export income earned by the country by exporting crops such as tea, rubber, coconut, cinnamon and pepper increased during the period from January to April of this year (2024) to USD 1,118.06 million. Last year (2023), the export income earned for the same period from these plantation crops was USD 884.6 million. Accordingly, in the first four months of this year, the country has earned an income of USD 234 million more than the export income of the same period last year.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS
Photo credits: Ceylon Today
SLPP decision splits the party in two: 92 MPs that attended the government meeting to support Ranil; the Rajapaksas on a separate team
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Thamilan
The Politburo of the SLPP decided on Monday (29th) that the party will be presenting its own candidate insead of supporting President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the 2024 Presidential Election. Reportedly, the decision has split the party in two and created a crisis situation within the party as the ‘Rajapaksas’ and the other group of MPs have divided themselves over the decision. Additionally, 92 MPs that attended the government party MP meeting have announced that they will be supporting current President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the lead-up to the upcoming presidential election.
The president can still appoint the IGP – EC | The IGP post: President-Speaker meeting to take place soon
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakaran, Thamilan
The Election Commission (EC) wrote to the secretary to President Ranil Wickremesinghe urging a speedy solution for the issue concerning the post of Inspector General of Police (IGP). The decision was made during a meeting of the commission yesterday (30th) at the Election Secretariat. Additionally, government sources state that President Ranil Wickremesinghe has decided to hold a special meeting after the Speaker returns to the country following his visit to Iran, regarding the position of IGP. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena is currently in Iran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new Iranian president.
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. “The SLPP has always been against the UNP” – Namal Rajapaksa – Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
2. Janaka and Chandrasena of the SLPP also to support Ranil – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Thamilan
3. “Is the SLPP support not being given in order to strengthen the weak Ranil?” – Gammanpila – Ada, Mawbima, Thinakkural, Thamilan