26 August 2024 | Vol. 10, #153

Thinakkural: “We will analyse and make a decision together if the Southern presidential candidates invite us for negotiations” – Suresh Premachandran | “No decision taken yet on whom to support out of the three candidates; the ITAK is continuing to analyse” – Sumanthiran

Thamilan: “We are following the path of Prabhakaran” – The TNPF announces | “The people of the Northern Province reject the 13A” – Dilith Jayaweera |The president submits special proposals to the cabinet to resolve salary anomalies

Mawbima: The presidential battle: An AI mission that rattles people’s minds! “We are already working with YouTube and Facebook” – The chairperson of the EC |
Hakeem showered with boos at the Akurana rally: “I am ready for any court case” – Hakeem 

Dinamina: An open challenge from the president to Sajith and Anura: “Come to an open discussion with the IMF without lying to the people. The IMF agreement cannot be changed. If it is changed, the economy will collapse again” – The president states during the UNP’s special convention 

Aruna: Even though the commission spent Rs. 15 million per person, 19 out of the 39 presidential candidates are hiding

Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only

Photo credits: TamilNet

“We will analyse and make a decision together if the Southern candidates invite us for negotiations” – Suresh Premachandran

Thinakkural, Virakesari

Spokesperson of the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) Suresh Premachandran stated that if the presidential candidates of Sri Lanka’s south invite the party for negotiations, the DTNA will analyse the situation and make a decision on it. He added that the DTNA aims to mobilise the objective of the common Tamil presidential candidate further.

“We are following the path of Prabhakaran” – The TNPF announces

Thamilan

Ahila Ilankai Thamil Congress (AITC) MP Selvarajah Kajendran stated that the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) is taking steps to boycott the upcoming presidential election by following the path taken by LTTE Leader V. Prabhakaran at the 2005 presidential election. He noted that Prabhakaran took this stance in 2005 as a pressurising tool to assure the rights of the Tamil people.

“The people of the Northern Province reject the 13A” – Dilith Jayaweera  

Thamilan

The presidential candidate of the Sarvajana Balaya alliance Dilith Jayaweera stated that the youth and the people of the Northern Province who genuinely love the Northern Province are rejecting the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution (13A) as well as the delegation of police and land powers under this amendment. He emphasised that thus, the statements made by presidential candidates in support of the 13A are irrelevant to this matter.

Photo credits: Newswire

The NPP’s manifesto to be released today 

Lankadeepa, Ada, Dinamina

The manifesto of the NPP titled “Pohosath Ratak – Lassana Jeevithayak” (A Rich Country – A Beautiful Life) is to be released today (26th). The ceremony to unveil the manifesto will be held in Sri Jayawardenepura at 9.30 am under the patronage of the NPP presidential candidate and Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka. A spokesperson of the party stated that this manifesto has been prepared to cover 39 main areas. He added that many academics, including members of the NPP’s Policy Committee and the Economic Committee, will participate in this event.

“Out of all the presidential candidates, I’m the one who has a practical programme” – Janaka Ratnayake

Divaina, Ada

Presidential candidate of the Eksath Lanka Podujana Party Janaka Ratnayaka stated that out of all the presidential candidates, he is the one who has proposed a practical programme that the people can undertake. He stated that prices of several items can be reduced and added that the price of one litre of fuel can be reduced by Rs. 200. 

The presidential battle: An AI mission that rattles the human mind! “We are already working with YouTube and Facebook” – The chairperson of the EC

Mawbima

Mawbima reports that it had received information about a possible AI campaign that would rattle and alter the minds of the public. The Election Commission (EC) has also lodged a complaint with the CID regarding this matter and added that they are already working with social media networks such as YouTube and Facebook to assess the issue. An expert in the field has informed the newspaper that such a campaign could have a great impact on the public since Sri Lanka’s IT proficiency is lower compared to most other countries and the technology is available to execute such campaigns. 

Photo credits: Daily Mirror

An open challenge from the president to Sajith and Anura: “Come for an open discussion with the IMF without lying to the people. The IMF agreement cannot be changed. If it is changed, the economy will collapse again” – The president states during the UNP’s special convention

Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran

Independent presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe challenged SJB presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa and NPP presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayaka to stop lying to the people and to participate in an open virtual discussion with the IMF. Wickremesinghe noted that this would allow the entire nation to assess the truthfulness of their public promises and the statements made by the politicians. He added that altering the agreement with the IMF is not feasible and emphasised that such a change could lead to another economic collapse. 

“Will dismiss unnecessary state expenses and allocate funds for relief” – Premadasa

Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thamilan

Today’s newspapers feature several statements made by the SJB’s presidential candidate, Sajith Premadasa. Attending a rally in Digana, Premadasa stated that he will take measures to dismiss all unnecessary government expenses and allocate funds to provide relief to the people. In Hingurakgoda, Premadasa stressed that he would take steps to enable fuel relief for farmers using a QR code and added that the 5 kg fertiliser bundle would be issued to farmers at Rs. 5,000. He added that he plans to put an end to the rice mill mafia and provide a fair price for paddy. 

Common priorities: Additional stories