DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS
Tamil Headlines
Virakesari: IGP Deshabandu suspended: Supreme Court orders president to appoint an acting replacement according to law | Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe explains reduction in interest rates due to favourable economic conditions | “Ven. Gnanasara Thera’s statements not true” says Cyril Gamini of Colombo Archdiocese
Thinakaran: Supreme Court suspends Tennakoon’s duties as IGP | Supreme Court order on IGP: Decision will be taken after detailed Cabinet discussions; announced at yesterday’s special Cabinet meeting | “Textbooks for grades 1, 6 and 10 will be provided under new education system” – Minister Premajayantha | Indian budget increase for Sri Lanka: Nirmala Sitharaman announces INR 950 million allocated for Sri Lanka | “Economic systems that create jobs are essential” – Presidential address at 106th anniversary of Gampaha Bandaranayake College
Thinakkural: Interim ban for IGP Tennakoon: Supreme Court orders to appoint a new IGP; investigation to be continued | “IGP Issue: Speaker’s letter to the president distorts the matter” – Premadasa | Emergency Cabinet meeting convened | Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe resigning? Special announcement expected today | Is there a plan to postpone the presidential election? Sumanthiran raises concerns | When the 22nd Amendment is read in parliament, walk out of the premises – ITAK
Thamilan: Deshabandu removed from office by the Supreme Court | IGP Issue: Sajith claims Speaker’s letter to the president distorts the matter | Clash between executive and judiciary over IGP’s suspension; “Elections cannot be held under an acting IGP” – President says at the emergency Cabinet meeting |“Ven. Gnanasara Thera’s statements are not true” – Colombo Archdiocese
Sinhala Headlines
Lankadeepa: EC halts 30 ceremonies which were targeting the election | Court order suspends Deshabandu’s post as IGP | IGP verdict: Cabinet decision to be made within the next two days | Court dismisses gazette presented by secretary to the president
Divaina: Court suspends Deshanbandu’s IGP post | Wijeyadasa to announce decision today: “I will be the bearer of good news” – Rajapakshe | Three names suggested for the acting IGP position | The gazette that increased the daily wage of plantation workers to Rs. 1,700 withdrawn | “No change in the stance of the government even though planters went before the courts” – Ranatunga
Ada: Ban issued on Deshbandu to continue work as the IGP
Mawbima: SC verdict on the IGP: The stance of the government to be given in two days; Cabinet meets urgently and decides | Announcing the election is postponed further
Dinamina: Deshabandu suspended from the post of IGP: Court issues an interim order | Supreme Court order on IGP: Cabinet’s response to be given following thorough study
Aruna: An interim order suspending Deshabandu from the post of IGP: Government decision on the verdict of the court to be given in two days | A decision made for justice – Catholic community | “The IGP was appointed due to the trivial letter of the Speaker” – Premadasa
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: Sri Lanka Mirror
Who decided to cremate Muslim victims’ bodies? Muslim MPs raise concern in parliament
Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Muslim MPs dismissed the Cabinet’s apology for the cremation of Muslim COVID-19 victims, considering it a political tactic rather than a sincere act of regret. In parliament on July 24, MP Rauff Hakeem criticised the government for failing to provide a list of those cremated and accused it of concealing the truth. MP Mujibur Rahman of the SJB also rejected the apology, highlighting that while WHO guidelines permitted burial, the government initially followed local committee recommendations, and only later allowed burial due to international pressure. All Muslim MPs called for the disclosure of who authorised the cremations despite the WHO guidelines, and strongly condemned the apology in parliament.
“Provide compensation to Muslims; an apology is insufficient for janaza cremations” – Premadasa
Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thamilan
Sajith Premadasa criticised the government’s apology for the cremation of Muslim COVID-19 victims, calling it inadequate. He argued that compensation should be provided to the affected Muslim community rather than just issuing an apology. Premadasa highlighted that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Cabinet’s support for compulsory cremation violated Muslim religious and cultural rights, and he called for transparency about the advisory report that led to this decision. He urged the government to address the issue properly with compensation rather than attempting to avoid responsibility.
“Minister’s apology is not a solution for Tamils who suffered from the Black July massacre” – MP Shritharan
Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thamilan
During an adjournment debate on artificial intelligence in parliament yesterday (24th), ITAK MP S. Shritharan criticised the government’s apology for the 41-year-old Black July massacre, deeming it insufficient for addressing Tamil grievances. He recalled Tambapillai Maheswaran, a key Eelam liberation struggle figure, and condemned the 1983 attacks which he said were supported by then-President J.R. Jayewardene and resulted in significant loss and destruction. Shritharan denounced the lack of government intervention and ongoing ethnic cleansing since 1954, calling for a meaningful political solution that honours the victims and ensures justice and self-determination for the Tamils.
MP Kajendran labels common candidate drama as a scheme to support Ranil, and strongly condemns it
Thinakkural, Virakesari
Tamil leaders who wish to extend President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s term are planning to propose a Tamil common candidate as a strategic move, given the Tamil community’s demand for a presidential election. This initiative is seen as an attempt to consolidate support for Wickremesinghe in the guise of presenting a Tamil candidate. MP Kajendran has strongly criticised this move, describing it as a calculated scheme designed to bolster Wickremesinghe’s position rather than genuinely addressing Tamil political aspirations.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: Ada Derana
Chief prelates express disfavour towards LGBTQ bill
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Aruna
The chief prelates [trinikaika Mahanayaka] have officially written to the president stating that the LGBTQ+ bill, which was presented to parliament as a private member’s proposal with narrow objectives, will lead to the distortion of the entire social fabric of the country and the decline of values. The chief prelates added that it is expected that the public representatives will pay immediate attention to this unethical bill and take the necessary measures.
“If the presidential candidacy is from outside the party, the SLPP needs the premiership” – Namal Rajapakasa
Lankadeepa, Mawbima
National Organiser of the SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa stated that if the presidential candidate to be supported by the SLPP will be from outside the party, the premiership of the country must be given to the SLPP. In response to questions posed by reporters, Rajapaksa stated that although the party met yesterday (24th), no discussions were held regarding the presidential candidate of the party.
Rs. 3,000 relief for retired government employees
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima
The Cabinet decided to grant a special monthly allowance of Rs. 3,000 to retired government employees starting from September 2024. The move will continue until salary anomalies of government workers are ironed out.
“The digital visa system at the airport is a threat to the county” – Patali, Hakeem, Sumanthiran
Ada
Several MPs including MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, MP Rauff Hakeem and MP M.A. Sumathiran filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition stating that the digital visa system that is to be introduced at the Katunayake Airport will result in valuable information of the country in terms of defence and security being revealed to the world. The MPs are now seeking an order to abolish the said visa system.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS
Photo credits: Sri Lanka Mirror
Court order suspends Deshabandu’s post as IGP
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinkaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
The Supreme Court (SC) issued an interim order yesterday (24th) suspending Deshabandu Tennakoon from carrying out duties and exercising powers associated with the position of Inspector General of Police (IGP). The SC decision marks the first time in the history of Sri Lanka’s judiciary and police department that an IGP’s duties have been suspended by court order. The verdict followed the consideration of nine petitions filed by several parties including Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and the Centre for Policy Alternatives. President Ranil Wickremesinghe was directed to appoint a suitable acting IGP to oversee the duties of the IGP in accordance with the law. The Cabinet decision regarding the SC verdict will be given in two days following thorough examination of the matter.
The gazette that increased the daily wage of plantation workers to Rs. 1,700 withdrawn
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Virakesari, Thinakaran
The Ministry of Labour issued a new gazette cancelling the previous gazette notification which had been issued increasing the daily wage of plantation workers to Rs. 1,700. Meanwhile, the new gazette that was issued states that the payments for plantation workers are to be made through the Wages Board. The minister of labour had previously issued a gazette notification setting the minimum daily wage of a plantation worker at Rs. 1,350 together with other allowances.
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Court dismisses gazette presented by secretary to the president – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Aruna, Thinakkural
2. Wijeyadasa to announce decision today: “I will be the bearer of good news” – Rajapakshe – Divaina, Thinakkural
3. CBSL reduces interest rates further – Divaina, Ada, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran