DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS
Tamil Headlines
Virakesari:“The chief justice and the speaker must resolve the issue of the IGP appointment” – The president | Photograph: The public gathers for a protest in Hatton conducted by the TPA against the government
Thinakaran: “The financial assistance of the IMF and lending countries are essential; if lending assistance is discontinued, the country will go back to an era of queues; the people cannot be deceived with lies; the conditions of the lenders must be adhered to no matter who comes into power” – The president
Thinakkural: Ranil Wickremesinghe meets Basil Rajapaksa in a final attempt to appeal for the SLPP’s support; Ranil Wickremesinghe believes that the support of the Rajapaksa brothers will win the votes of the SLPP supporters for him | 75 SLPP MPs out of 90 support Ranil Wickremesinghe; a decision to be made today regarding the candidacy | “Ranil Wickremesinghe is attempting to create trouble by enabling the postponement of the election” – Mujibur Rahuman
Thamilan: The SLPP to hold an important discussion today on whether to support Ranil Wickremesinghe or Dhammika Perera | The TPA stages a protest in Hatton demanding the [proposed] salary increment for the plantation workers
Sinhala Headlines
Lankadeepa: The SLPP splits into three | The Road Development [Authority] chair sent home following a clash with the secretary; “I sent him home” – Gunawardana
Divaina:“Join me to build a successful future for your children” – Wickremesinghe | “If you can, state in public that you do not agree with the SC verdict” – Premadasa | “The most intense power shift in history will happen through this election” – Dissanayaka | Smiles amid tears for cricket: Our girls make our motherland shine with the Asia Cup win | “50,000 jobs issued with the election right around the corner” – The EC strict on the case; will take measures today
Ada: The cost of VIP security increases to Rs. 5,833 million; the annual cost for the 2018-2022 period averaged Rs. 4,342 million. However, the cost for 2023 comes up to Rs. 5,833 million; security provided beyond authorised limits for many including former governors, former MPs, former chief ministers, religious leaders and many more
Mawbima: Chamari’s battalion gifts the Asia Cup to the motherland | The president hands the IGP issue over to the speaker and the chief justice
Dinamina:“The country will go back to the ‘queue-era’ if we do not work in accordance with the IMF’s conditions. The people are still living difficult lives, I have not forgotten that misery; this government’s program is to give rights to the ‘small man’”– The president states in Galle
Aruna: Nurses attend the NPP rally in uniform; the Ministry of Health has even granted them leave from work – A complaint to the commission | The girls win over the whole of Asia | The SLPP\ candidate to be announced today | The candidate of the SLFP alliance to be announced day-after-tomorrow | Champika will not support any candidate who has the Rajapaksas’ blessings
Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: Ada Derana
The TPA stages a protest in Hatton demanding the [proposed] salary increment for the plantation workers
Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) staged a protest in Hatton yesterday (28th) demanding the salary increment of Rs.1,700 that had been proposed for the plantation workers. The TPA demanded that the government and the plantation companies provide the said increment to the plantation workers immediately. A massive crowd had gathered for the protest during which the plantation workers also demanded land rights and the rights to home-ownership.
“Ranil Wickremesinghe is attempting to create trouble by enabling the election to be stopped” – Mujibur Rahuman
Virakesari, Thinakkural
SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman stated that his party suspects that the presidential election may also suffer the same fate as the local government election. He added that the local government election was postponed although the process for it had been initiated and candidates had also submitted their nominations. He further stated that President Ranil Wickremesinghe may make decisions that make it possible to halt the election and that the president is also looking for ways to create chaos within this period. Rahuman noted that however, the law will not allow the president to act in that manner.
“Sub-forums will decide the candidate, the symbol and the election manifesto” – The Tamil National Common Structure
Virakesari, Thinakkural
It is reported that important decisions were made yesterday (28th) at the first meeting of the Tamil National Common Structure. Accordingly, it has been decided to establish sub-forums to select the common Tamil presidential candidate, determine the symbol for the election, draft the election manifesto, raise funds and carry out election campaigns. Political analyst and Tamil National Common Structure Member Nilanthan stated that sub-forums have been established to make decisions on the aforementioned concerns and the decisions on these matters are to be announced by the relevant sub-forums.
Anura Kumara Dissanayaka invites the Muslim people [to join the NPP]
Thinakkural
NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka appealed to the Muslim people to join the NPP to establish a united government. He added that the NPP is expecting to establish a government with the support of all communities in Sri Lanka and that his party is acting based on the truth. He further stated that his party will support any community that encounters discrimination.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: The Island
“The most intense power shift in history will happen through this election” – Dissanayaka
Divaina, Ada
NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka stated that the 2024 presidential election will see the most intense power shift in the history of Sri Lanka. He added that he will remain democratic together with the NPP and will work in accordance with the laws of the country to the best of their ability. Dissanayaka made these remarks at the launch of his official website on July 27. The event marked the introduction of a significant digital presence for Dissanayaka. The website is AI-powered and interacts with users to provide information based on the NPP’s policies and principles.
50,000 jobs given with the election around the corner
Divaina
On July 23, the government passed a gazette enabling all governors to issue 50,000 jobs to degree holders. The gazette was issued one day ahead of the declaration of dates for the 2024 presidential election. The Election Commission (EC) stated that they would be looking into the matter strictly and would take measures immediately with regard to it.
The ITAK’s choice to be announced after policy statements are revealed
Mawbima
ITAK MP M.A. Sumanthiran stated that their party will decide and announce whom they would be supporting at the presidential election after the policy statements of all candidates are released. He added that the party’s decision would be based on how the candidates plan on finding solutions for the problems faced by the Tamil people of Sri Lanka.
Champika will not support a candidate who has the Rajapaksas’ blessings
Aruna
United Republic Front (URF) Leader MP Patali Champika Ranawaka stated that if the current president contests the election with the blessings of the Rajapaksas, his party would not give its support to Wickremesinghe. He added that the party will announce its decision in the future regarding the presidential election.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS
Photo credits: Daily News
“The speaker and the chief justice to discuss and solve the IGP issue” – The president
Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that the speaker and the chief justice (CJ) should discuss and resolve the matter regarding the appointment of the inspector general of police (IGP), within a week. Wickremesinghe added that he will be occupied with the 2024 presidential election and stated that he has no intention of postponing the election. He further stated that the issue of the IGP must be resolved immediately and that it cannot hinder the presidential election in any way.
Will it be Ranil or Dhammika? The SLPP to decide today
Lankadeepa, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Bandula Gunawardana stated that today (29th) in Homagama, the political committee of the SLPP will announce the decision on whom it will be supporting at the upcoming presidential election. Many newspapers posed the question of whether the SLPP would support President Ranil Wickremesinghe or SLPP MP Dhammika Perera.
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. “I will be contesting in the presidential election” – Wickremesinghe | “No matter who comes into power, no one can work beyond the IMF framework” – Wickremesinghe – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakaran
2. Chamari’s leadership wins the Asia Cup for Sri Lanka – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural
3. “If [you] can, state in public that [you] do not agree with the SC verdict” – Premadasa – Divaina, Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakkural