DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS
Tamil Headlines
Virakesari: “It is doubtful that Anura (Kumara Dissanayake) will find solutions for the problems of the Tamils” – Leaders of the Tamil political parties state at a discussion with the Indian high commissioner | “I am contesting in the general election” – Uvindu Wijeweera | Pictorial: Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha meets and congratulates Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath | An alliance headed by the UNP to contest; symbol to be decided
Thinakaran: “Good relationship with President Dissanayake; India will work together with the new government” – Santosh Jha states at a discussion with Tamil leaders | Low-quality medicine imported even after Keheliya was arrested; Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association lodges a complaint at the CID
Thinakkural: “Will the Anura (Kumara Dissanayake) government implement the 13th Amendment?; will they provide solutions for the problems of the Tamils?; we need to wait and see” – Tamil political leaders state at a discussion with the Indian high commissioner
Thamilan: Police CID sought bribes! Viranjith Thambugala alleges; former minister Tiran Alles too allegedly sought bribes | “If the constituent parties (of the TNA) are not joining, the ITAK will contest alone” – Sumanthiran
Sinhala Headlines
Lankadeepa: MPs’ pensions and duty-free vehicle permits revoked? Decision made at the first cabinet meeting; recommendation committee appointed | Fuel prices reduced: Petrol by Rs. 21, Auto Diesel by Rs. 27, Super Diesel by Rs. 33 and Kerosene by Rs. 19
Divaina: 3,119 violent crimes against children committed last year
Ada: “Hold the scholarship examination once again; it is unfair to only give marks for three questions when eight questions have been leaked” – Parents in protest before the Education Ministry | “Only three questions were leaked; although the NIE director gave seven questions to the committee only three were chosen” – Police Media Spokesperson cites revelation from the investigation
Mawbima: The Grade 5 scholarship examination issue prolonged; parents to the SC requesting a resitting; “It is a hindrance to the children, the examination will not be held again” – Education Secretary | “Fertiliser at risk of being melted due to the halting of relief” – Director of Community Services for the former president writes to the EC
Dinamina:The expected outcome has not been achieved; the ‘Yukthiya’ operation is a complete media spectacle
Aruna: MP benefits revoked: vehicle permits, pensions, office benefits, telephone and stamp benefits, revoked
Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES
“It is doubtful that Anura (Kumara Dissanayake) will find solutions for the problems of the Tamils” – Leaders of the Tamil political parties state at a discussion with the Indian high commissioner
Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Virakesari
High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha claimed that there is a good relationship between India and newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, adding that India is keen to work with Sri Lanka.
He made these remarks at a discussion with leaders of the Tamil political parties in Colombo yesterday (30th).
The discussion focused on the situation in the post-presidential election period and the situation in the North and East ahead of the general election.
The leaders of the Tamil parties highlighted that there is doubt among the Tamils whether President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will find solutions for the problems of the Tamils, as the JVP has not supported devolution of powers, adding that they had opposed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
The participants included Mavai Senathirajah, Dharmalingam Sithadthan, P. Sathiyalingam, S. Shritharan, Selvam Adaikkalanathan and Suresh Premachandran.
“If the constituent parties (of the TNA) are not joining, the ITAK will contest alone” – Sumanthiran
Thamilan, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran
Former ITAK MP M.A. Sumanthiran claimed that his party had invited the former constituent parties of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to contest under the ITAK and its ‘House’ symbol in the upcoming general election.
He added that if they do not join the ITAK to contest, his party will contest alone in the upcoming general election.
He further added that the ITAK will decide the names for nominations if other parties fail to turn back.
Sumanthiran noted that his party has decided to allow young men and women to contest and not give a chance to those who contested in the past and lost.
“We will contest under the DTNA; using the ‘Conch’ symbol” – Karunakaram
Thinakkural
Former ITAK MP and General Secretary of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) Govindan Karunakaram claimed that they will contest under the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) using the ‘Conch’ symbol in the upcoming general election.
He added that there was a discussion with the Tamil Common Structure and the collective decision was to use the ‘Conch’ symbol.
He further added that they have requested the Election Commission to provide the ‘Conch’ symbol for the alliance.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES
“The parked vehicles were given to the former president’s personal staff” – Presidential Secretariat
Divaina, Dinamina, Aruna
The Presidential Secretariat issued a clarification regarding the numerous statements and opinions that are being expressed in relation to the vehicles which have been parked on the premises near the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
The statement read that 107 vehicles which were handed over to the Secretariat in the last few days, as notified after the appointment of the new president, have been temporarily parked on the premises outside the Presidential Secretariat under police protection.
The announcement stressed that the vehicles were not provided to the regular staff of the Presidential Secretariat and were provided by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe to his private staff appointed under Article 41(1) of the Constitution during his tenure.
Export income for August is Rs. 347 billion
Dinamina
The provisional data released by Sri Lanka Customs states that the merchandise export performance in August 2024 amounted to Rs. 347 billion or USD 1,165.4 million in August 2024.
It thus recorded an increase of 4.18% compared to the month of August 2023.
This was mainly due to the increase in earnings from the export of apparel and textiles, tea, rubber-based products, coconut-based products and spices.
“No nominations for those that betrayed the SLPP” – (Sagara) Kariyawasam
Aruna
General Secretary of the SLPP, Sagara Kariyawasam stated that nominations will not be given to any individuals who betrayed the SLPP.
Kariyawasam added that the SLPP will be contesting under the ‘Pohottuwa’ (Lotus Bud) symbol from all districts in the upcoming general election and stressed that the party will successfully rise once again.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS
MPs’ pensions and duty-free vehicle permits revoked? Decision made at the first cabinet meeting; recommendation committee appointed
Lankadeepa, Ada, Mawbima, Aruna, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
A proposal for the revocation of the pensions and duty-free vehicle permits issued to MPs was included in the first cabinet paper presented by the new government.
Accordingly, the first cabinet meeting was held yesterday (30th) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
A recommendation committee has thus been appointed to provide recommendations to make the relevant changes.
While the Sinhala press highlighted the decision regarding revoking MP privileges, the Tamil press only reported that the first cabinet meeting was held yesterday (30th) and its decisions will be announced by Minister Vijitha Herath today (1st).
“Hold the scholarship examination once again; it is unfair to only give marks for three questions when eight questions have been leaked” – Parents in protest before the Education Ministry
Lankadeepa, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
Parents of students who sat for the Grade 5 scholarship examination staged a protest in front of the Ministry of Education, demanding a proper solution for the leaked questions of the examination paper.
The parents claim that marks have only been given for three questions and stressed that eight questions in total had been leaked.
Mawbima highlighted that the parents have stated that they will be submitting a petition before the Supreme Court (SC), requesting that the examination be held again.
The Police Media Spokesperson, citing revelations from the investigation, added that only three questions had been leaked, and that although the director of the National Institute of Education (NIE) gave seven questions to the committee, only three were chosen.
Secretary to the Ministry of Education Thilaka Jayasundara stated that holding the examination again will be a hindrance to the children and cause them unnecessary mental pressure and stress.
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Fuel prices reduced: Petrol by Rs. 21, Auto Diesel by Rs. 27, Super Diesel by Rs. 33 and Kerosene by Rs. 19 – Lankadeepa, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakaran
2. A haul of substandard immunoglobulin has been brought down from India once again; a complaint to the CID to investigate the incident – Divaina, Ada, Thinakaran
3. “If the Rajapaksas are thieves, bring them before the law” – (Sagara) Kariyawasam – Divaina, Mawbima, Virakesari