DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS
Tamil Headlines
Virakesari: Rs. 1,700 daily wage for the plantation workers; decision taken at the Wages Board | Pictorial: The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) signs an MoU with the SJB
Thinakaran: Wages for plantation workers increased to Rs. 1,700 as the president promised; agreed at the talks with the Wages Board | Pictorial: Ali Sabry sworn in as the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms
Thinakkural: “My path is uniquely my own” – Chandrika Kumaratunga | Sajith (Premadasa) invites the Tamil National Common Structure for an urgent discussion tomorrow | Sajith signs an MoU with the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) | Rs. 1,700 daily wage for plantation workers; no increment in the next three years
Thamilan: Wage increase for plantation workers: Rs. 1,700 daily wage confirmed | “I have fulfilled my promise” – Jeevan Thondaman | Grama Niladharis on strike
Sinhala Headlines
Lankadeepa: 20 MPs have not yet submitted their declarations of assets and liabilities; Those who do not make the submission before August 31 to be fined or jailed | Specialist doctor ordered to pay Rs. 50,000 to nurse as compensation for hitting her on the head with a pair of scissors | Three killed in three-wheeler – lorry collision in Weweldeniya; Three others seriously injured
Divaina: Tourists depleted over visa queues [at the airport]
Ada: 21 students arrested over the incident of sexually abusing a student from Thanamalwila: Woman who helped during the incident also arrested; accusations from the mother of the schoolgirl that the doctor caused fear in the child, resulting in her attempting death by suicide; Student’s mother also complained that the statement was given as per the instructions of the court doctor; The mother states that she filed a complaint with the Hambantota Police and the Police Children and Women Bureau regarding the doctor: Investigation to be conducted over the principal as well
Mawbima: The incident of a group sexually abusing a student: 21 students in a Thanamalwila school, remanded | Student threatened and pressured by the Hambantota court doctor: mother lodges complaint at the Police Children and Women Bureau | Doctor to pay compensation for striking nurse’s head with a pair of scissors at the Kurunegala Hospital
Dinamina: Granting Rs. 1,700 for the plantation workers, passed: Agreement to give inheritance of a house of 8 perches and teaching assistant appointments to 2,300 youths in the sector | Ali Sabry sworn in as the Minister of Justice [pictorial]
Aruna: “I am the one who brought three coffins to the Aragalaya” – Harin Fernando | Complaint against 200 bar licensees that defied court orders | Rs. 1,700 [for plantation workers] approved by the Wages Board
Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: Lankasara
“I am not supporting any candidate” – Chandrika Kumaratunga
Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Thamilan
Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga announced that she will not be endorsing any candidate in the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
This statement comes in response to suggestions from SLFP members to support Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in the election.
Chinese Ambassador learns the closeness of the Tamils with India
Virakesari
Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, stated that China does not view itself as competing with India in the North and East of Sri Lanka.
During a discussion held yesterday (12th) at the Chinese Embassy with ITAK MPs M.A. Sumanthiran and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, the ambassador expressed concerns about the perception that China only supports the Sinhalese, despite their willingness to engage closely with the Tamil community in the North and East.
When the ambassador inquired why Tamil MPs maintain closer ties with India, Sumanthiran responded by saying that Tamils have strong ties with India because it consistently advocates for political solutions that are crucial to the Tamil community.
“Federalism can be discussed only in the new parliament” – President tells the Tamil National Common Structure
Virakesari
President Ranil Wickremesinghe invited representatives of the Tamil National Common Structure for a discussion, which took place in Colombo yesterday (12th).
During the meeting, the representatives emphasised their demands, which included the devolution of powers to ensure the right to live with dignity and self-determination in the North and East.
In response, the President stated that a solution based on federalism could be discussed in the new parliament after the upcoming general election and expressed his support for such initiatives.
He also urged the representatives to support him on this basis.
He further assured that he would take steps to fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution following the presidential election.
Sajith (Premadasa) invites the Tamil National Common Structure for an urgent discussion on Saturday
Thinakkural
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has invited representatives of the Tamil National Common Structure for an urgent discussion scheduled for tomorrow (14th).
Reports indicate that Premadasa called one of the representatives to extend the invitation.
However, the representative responded that meeting on that day would not be possible due to their commitments with the nomination process for their Tamil common presidential candidate.
The representative suggested that the discussion could take place on a day after the nominations are filed or after the SJB’s election manifesto is released.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: Ada Derana
32 candidates have entered the presidential battle
Divaina, Ada, Mawbima
As of yesterday (12th), the number of candidates for the upcoming presidential election increased to 32.
Chairperson of the Election Commission (EC), R.M.A.L. Rathnayake stated that during the period from July 26 to yesterday (12th), 17 political parties and 15 independent candidates have deposited bonds for the candidacy.
He added that the period for depositing the bond will end tomorrow (14th) at noon.
“No financial issue for the election; prepared to dispense money as soon as the EC requests for it” – Ministry of Finance
Divaina
The Ministry of Finance stated that it is prepared to dispense money at the request of the Election Commission (EC) for the upcoming election.
Accordingly, the ministry stressed that there were no financial issues regarding the expenses for the 2024 Presidential Election.
20 MPs have not yet submitted their declarations of assets and liabilities; Those who do not make the submission before August 31 to be fined or jailed
Lankadeepa
20 Members of Parliament have delayed submitting their declarations of assets and liabilities to parliament.
Accordingly, the Election Commission has informed officials at the parliament to remind MPs who have not submitted the declarations to do so before August 31.
If the MPs fail to submit their declarations by the given date, they will either be fined or jailed.
Tourists in queues at BIA to obtain a visa
Divaina, Ada, Aruna
It was reported that large numbers of tourists were standing in queues to obtain their visas at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
The situation has arisen due to the non-issuance of online visas to foreign tourists and other people coming to Sri Lanka.
Subsequently, long queues of tourists were seen at the On Arrival Visa counter to obtain their visas.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS
Photo credits: Newswire
Plantation workers’ daily wage increase to Rs. 1,700, approved
Lankadeepa, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Thamilan
The Wages Board, yesterday (12th), passed the decision to raise the daily wage of plantation workers to Rs. 1,700.
Accordingly, a basic salary of Rs. 1,350 and an additional Rs. 350 as an incentive will be given to the plantation workers.
A poll was also held regarding the wage increase and it was passed in the board with a majority vote.
It was reported additionally, that an agreement to give inheritance of a house of 8 perches and teaching assistant appointments to 2,300 youths in the sector was also reached.
Dinamina, Thinakaran and Thamilan featured several MPs responding to this move of the president.
Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development Jeevan Thondaman thanked President Wickremesinghe for intervening in the matter.
General Secretary of the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers’ Union, MP Vadivel Suresh also expressed his gratitude to President Wickremesinghe and the Government for extending the fullest support to get the minimum daily wage of estate workers raised to Rs. 1,700.
Ali Sabry sworn in as the Minister of Justice
Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Thinakaran, Thamilan
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Sabry, PC was sworn in as the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms.
Sabry took oaths in the presence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday (12th) morning.
Accordingly, Sabry will take on the responsibilities of the new ministerial post in addition to his current role as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Wimal Weerawansa sues the government for Rs. 100 million claiming that his reputation was tarnished due to the passport case – Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Aruna, Virakesari
2. Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Aruna, Virakesari – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran
3. “A majority out of the 86 political parties in the country, support Ranil” – Wajira Abeywardana – Ada, Thinakaran
4. 21 students arrested over the incident of sexually abusing a student from Thanamalwila – Lankadeepa, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari