DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: Fuel prices increase by 35% in March; Sinopec and Lanka IOC raise prices beyond fixed rates | Heavy Iranian attack on Israel; 180 people injured | “Increase bus fares by 15%; otherwise, strike action” – Transport unions warn | Risk of price hikes for food and medicinal items | “Will electricity tariffs be increased?” – Minister Nalinda says the request is being examined Thinakaran: “Fuel subsidy for the people; Government bears monthly cost of Rs. 20 billion; measures to control price hikes of essential goods; government action as a mechanism to reduce the public burden” — Nalinda Jayatissa |
Thinakkural: Fuel prices hiked massively; prices to skyrocket! Costs of goods and services likely to rise sharply; innocent people in great distress | “Government loses Rs. 100 on diesel and Rs. 20 on petrol” – Minister Nalinda says Thamilan: 48-hour deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz set by Trump! Threatens to destroy power plants if not met; Tehran says the entire Gulf will be destroyed if that happens | Will fuel prices increase again? |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Transport fares rise alongside fuel prices; container charges up 20%, bus minimum at Rs. 35? Three-wheeler starting fare set at Rs. 20; school van charges unchanged for now, decision on bus fare revision expected today; a proposal for 10% increase to the Cabinet | “No crude oil shipments until March; future supply uncertain, continuous supply assured despite price hikes; no power cuts yet; even if the war ends tomorrow the economic impacts would not end” — Minister Jayatissa; “Do not go on trips, conserve fuel” – Chairperson of CEYPETCO Divaina: Fuel price surge burns every sector; “The two fuel shipments now uncertain” — Minister Jayatissa; “Global fuel prices rose by 141%, local prices only 36%” — Chairperson of CEYPETCO; Prices of imported essential goods to rise by 1–10%; three-wheeler fees to be increased by Rs. 20; container transport fees rise by 20%; “Bus fare should be increased by 15%” — Gemunu Wijeratne; “Proposal to revise bus fare to the Cabinet today” — Director of NTC; Hospital channeling fees for distance consultations increased; Broad rise in prices of goods and services; “Disruptions in vegetable distribution” — Dambulla wholesale merchants; Further revisions expected from April 1 depending on global fuel price trends
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Dinamina: “Global fuel prices have gone up endlessly; The government is absorbing Rs. 20,000 million subsidies; Rs. 100 per litre for diesel and Rs. 20 per litre for petrol; Rs. 200 price hike proposed, with costs to be shared by the government and companies” — Minister Jayatissa Aruna: Fuel prices shake the country; three-wheeler fees to be increased by Rs. 20; “school van fees won’t be increased till May” — School van associations; container charges increase; “The bakery has been hit” — Bakery owners; Arrack prices also impacted | A proposal for 10% increase in bus fare to the Cabinet Anidda: This paper is published only on Fridays |