DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS
Tamil Headlines
Virakesari: Election date to be announced today – Election Commission | “I will contest in the presidential election” – Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa announces officially | Pictorial: President along with Sagala Ratnayaka and Ganesh Eswaran attending the inauguration ceremony of the Colombo International Tea Convention 2024
Thinakaran: Cabinet approves national agenda for the implementation of an anti-corruption act outlined in the IMF report on governance diagnostics technical assistance support | “If, by chance, Sajith Premadasa wins, he can’t prepare the budget for 2025” – Bandula Gunawardana | “New progress is essential for the tea
industry” – President
Thinakkural: “5,638 Tamil people were massacred in seven days during Black July riots” – Shritharan | “An investigation into the Black July riots is necessary; where are the remains of Kuttimani and Thangadurai?” – Selvam Adaikkalanathan | “Ranil Wickremesinghe has split the SLPP” – Namal Rajapaksa
Thamilan: Election date to be announced today – Election Commission | Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne passes away | “Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne was a great man” – Shritharan pays tribute in the House | “Black July is a blackened month for Tamil people” – Shritharan expresses in the House
Sinhala Headlines
Lankadeepa: Attorney General (AG) opposes Constitutional Council’s decision to appoint appellate court chairperson to the Supreme Court | “We have no issues with IGP post; ready to conduct both elections” – Election commissioner | “We supported Ranil, but he is splitting the party in two” – Namal Rajapaksa | 12 candidates already in line for the presidential seat
Divaina: The position of IGP is not vacant because this is only an injunction order; an acting IGP cannot be appointed | “In recent decades, political fanaticism has surged, and the government has become rife with fraud and corruption. I am entering the presidential race to build a country that can rise together” – Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe | “We will inform the date today” – Election commissioner | Fonseka is also in the presidential race
Ada: Ranil gains backing of 48 government members; 30 have notified this to Mahinda yesterday | SF and Wijeyadasa to contest in presidential election | IGP post is still not vacant; president receives legal advice | Injunction order issued for Thilanga’s lock and key complaint
Mawbima: The presidential battle heats up: Wijeyadasa confirmed, Fonseka is ready, Dhammika will decide; Ranil’s decision expected tomorrow | 30 SLPP MPs support Ranil; decision informed to Mahinda
Dinamina: Cabinet approves anti-corruption agenda from IMF report; grants full powers to auditor general to combat fraud | Public Financial Management Bill and Economic Transformation Bill passed in parliament with amendments | Prime minister’s statement on the IGP post will be made today in parliament
Aruna: Passport issuing is limited | To support the president, 30 MPs convene at Flower Road and 18 MPs gather at a hotel | Presidential election: Gazette will be issued today
Anidda: “Cabinet cannot question Supreme Court orders; it would constitute contempt of court” – President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma | “Delay in appointing IGP is not an issue” – Election commissioner | “President is dividing the SLPP into two” – Namal Rajapaksa | Will parliament be dissolved if SLPP withdraws support?
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: telo.org
“Where were the remains of Kuttimani and Thangadurai buried?; an investigation is necessary” – Selvam Adaikkalanathan
Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
ITAK MP Selvam Adaikkalanathan stated that the government must reveal where the remains of the leaders of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) Kuttimani and Thangadurai, who were assassinated at the Welikada Prison, were buried. He added that investigations into the genocide that took place during July 1983 must be initiated, and that no justice has been provided to date in this country for the number of assassinations that have taken place in several prisons.
“5,638 Tamil people were massacred in seven days during Black July riots” – Shritharan
Thinakkural, Thamilan
ITAK MP Sivagnanam Shritharan stated that as many as 5,638 Tamil people were massacred during the grand genocide operation undertaken for seven days starting from July 23, 1983. He added that there were 2,015 Tamil people injured, 466 people went missing, 615 persons raped, 5,000 business centres destroyed and more than 250,000 people displaced internally. He further emphasised that no Sri Lankan leader has opened their mouth concerning this for the last 41 years, even though the Canadian prime minister expressed his concern in this regard.
“ITAK has not decided to nominate a common presidential candidate” – Sumanthiran
Thinakkural, Thinakaran
ITAK MP M.A. Sumanthiran stated that his party, the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK), has not made any decision with regard to stand for the nomination of a Tamil common presidential candidate. He added that his party is of the view that it should extend its support for the main candidates after bargaining with them and subsequently reviewing their election manifestoes.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: Newsfirst.lk
“We have no issues with the IGP post; ready to conduct both elections” – Election commissioner
Lankadeepa, Anidda
Chairperson of the Election Commission R.M.A.L. Rathnayake stated that there is no issue with the IGP position. He noted that elections can be held on two suitable dates and emphasised that the Supreme Court’s interim injunction order concerning Inspector General of Police Tennakoon will not affect the presidential election. Rathnayake also mentioned that he will proceed with work alongside the acting IGP to be appointed in the future.
“Cabinet cannot question Supreme Court orders; it would constitute contempt of court” – President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma
Anidda
Upul Kumarapperuma PC stated that the Cabinet lacks the authority to review or comment on the Supreme Court’s interim order barring Mr. Tennakoon from the Inspector General of Police position, labelling such an action as an insult to the court. Following the interim order issued on July 24, President Ranil Wickremesinghe called an emergency Cabinet meeting that evening to address the Supreme Court’s decision. The interim order, issued by the Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Mahinda Samayawardena and Achala Wengappuli, directed that IGP Tennakoon be suspended from his duties until the Supreme Court petition is resolved, with a suitable replacement being appointed.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS
Photo credits: Economy Next
Presidential election gazette to be released today
Lankadeepaa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
The Election Commission announced yesterday (25th) that the presidential election will be officially declared today. There was an extensive discussion about the election at yesterday’s meeting. As a result, the details for election day and the location for submitting nominations will be outlined in today’s gazette.
“We supported Ranil, but he is splitting the party in two” – Namal Rajapaksa
Lankadeepaa, Divaina, Mawbima, Aruna, Anidda, Virakesari, 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. Fonseka and Wijeyadasa enter the presidential election – Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
2. NSSP Leader Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne passes away – Lankadeepaa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
3. Three MPs – Patali, Hakeem and Sumanthiran – challenge the electronic visa system in court, citing national security threats and major scams –Divaina, Anidda, Virakesari
4. The government states that the IGP post is still not vacant, and the president is currently receiving legal advice on the matter – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Dinamina, Thinakaran