DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS
Tamil Headlines
Thinakaran: “A radical change is necessary in the country” – President| Russia donates 55,000 MT of fertiliser
Thinakkural: “Over 60 submissions to punish Sri Lankan officials – ITJP submits and urges | Former Sri Lankan deputy high commissioner fined AUD 117,000 by an Australian court | Two weeks’ time for the Speaker to explain the Speaker’s ‘Dr’ issue | “We are prepared to face anything” – Deputy minister of agriculture
Thamilan: No tax reduction on rice; imports cancelled! The discussion with the minister of trade failed
Sinhala Headlines
Lankadeepa: Do not submit [the list] without Kariappar’s name; a ban on the SJB national list | No appointing Judge Bandula to the High Court: The petition against the Constitutional Council dismissed
Divaina: The petition filed against the Constitutional Council for dismissing the recommendations made by former president Ranil Wickremesinghe dismissed
Ada: A complaint to the CID regarding the Speaker’s doctorate | “The Speaker must make a statement and stop the mud-slinging at the government” – MP Harshana Rajakaruna
Mawbima: Companies that purchased “sheds” are operating under the CEYPETCO name; CEYPETCO prepares to sue the companies | Azath Salley’s fundamental rights have been violated through his arrest and detention – SC rules
Dinamina: Dullas and Hirunika omitted from the SJB national list; Mano, Sujeewa, Kariappar and Mohammed make it through
Anidda: The Supreme Court verdict challenges the survival of the appeals court judge’s career; is judge Bandula Karunarathna suitable to function as an appeals court judge any further?
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES
“Two weeks’ time for the Speaker to explain the Speaker’s ‘Dr’ issue” – SJB
Thinakkural, Virakesari
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Ajith P. Perera claimed that the main opposition party gives the Speaker two weeks’ time to provide an explanation over the issue of ‘Dr’. He added that the SJB will bring a no-confidence motion, along with other opposition parties, against the Speaker if he fails to explain within the given deadline. He further added that either the government or the Speaker should explain the matter, and that there will not be any issue if the Speaker holds an acceptable degree.
Over 60 submissions to punish Sri Lankan officials – ITJP submits and urges
Thinakkural
The International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) has submitted more than 60 sanctions and visa ban requests against Sri Lankan public and security officials to date as well as a series of universal jurisdiction cases. The ITJP sent these submissions to the Governments of the U.S., UK, Australia and Canada and to the EU as well as the UN. The submissions cover gross violations of human rights and significant corruption in respect of the Sri Lankan army, navy, air force, police and intelligence officials, Tamil paramilitaries, as well as civil servants including judges and former ministers.
“ITAK will support a TNA revival” – P. Sathiyalingam
Thinakkural
Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) MP Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam stated that all Tamil political parties should collectively work regarding the resolution of the ethnic crisis and the new constitution, adding that the ITAK will take such measures. He further added that the ITAK’s stance is that all Tamil MPs should raise their voices as a single voice in parliament.
“CEB owes Rs. 333 billion in arrears; current price should remain for the next six months” – Pubudu Niroshan
Thamilan, Virakesari
Director General – Power Sector Reforms Secretariat Pubudu Niroshan claimed that despite the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) generating profits, it has Rs. 333 billion arears from the loans it obtained from various sectors. He added that because of that they expect that the current pricing formula will remain for the next six months.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES
“The Rs. 100,000 compensation per hectare for crop damage will be given immediately; fertiliser and other subsidies will not be delayed either” – Namal Karunaratne
Divaina, Ada, Dinamina
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne stated that necessary steps will be taken to provide full compensation of Rs. 100,000 per hectare to farmers whose crops were destroyed due to recent adverse weather conditions across the island. According to the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board, approximately Rs. 1.8 billion will be spent to compensate for the amount of agricultural land destroyed by the recent floods and challenging weather conditions.
Ranil, Dinesh and Tiran to be questioned over the substandard medicine case
Dinamina
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has so far recorded statements from 14 cabinet ministers in the previous government in connection with the investigation into the purchase of substandard vaccines. According to the CID, only four more former cabinet members are left to provide statements. Former president Ranil Wickremesinghe, former prime minister Dinesh Gunawardena and former minister of Public Security Tiran Alles are reportedly among the four.
NPP decision on the issue after the Speaker’s statement
Anidda
A spokesperson from the office of the Secretary of the NPP Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe stated that the NPP cannot issue a statement regarding the educational qualifications of Speaker Ashoka Ranwala. The spokesperson cited Ranwala’s request for time to issue a statement in this regard as the reason the party cannot issue a statement regarding the same. The party will be issuing a statement regarding the issue after Ranwala issues his statement.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS
Sujeewa [Senasinghe], Mano [Ganesan], Nizam [Kariapper] and Mohamed [Ismail] make it into parliament through the SJB national list
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Anidda, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
The SJB, which is the main opposition party in parliament, has finalised its nominations for the four remaining national list MP seats in parliament. The nominees are Mano Ganesan, Nizam Kariapper, Sujeewa Senasinghe and Mohamed Ismail. General Secretary of the SJB MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara stated that the names of these nominees have been submitted to the Election Commission (EC).
Additionally, the Colombo District Court (DC) issued a restraining order against the SJB yesterday (12th) preventing the party from submitting its national list without including the name of Nizam Kariapper of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC).
Azath Salley’s fundamental rights have been violated through his arrest and detention – SC rules
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a verdict stating that the arrest and detention of the former Governor of the Western Province Azath Salley under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in 2021 was illegal and is in violation of his fundamental rights. Accordingly, the SC also ordered the respondents to pay Rs. 75,000 as compensation to the plaintiff. The former Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara and the then director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) were among those named as respondents in the case.
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. The petition filed against the Constitutional Council for dismissing the recommendations made by former president Ranil Wickremesinghe dismissed – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Anidda, Thamilan
2. It has been confirmed that the fever that took the lives of seven in Jaffna is the Rat fever (Leptospirosis) – Epidemiology Unit – Divaina, Ada, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
3. “Take steps to strengthen and boost the efficiency of our financial system” – President directs the finance ministry – Divaina, Mawbima, Thinakaran, Thinakkural