DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS
Tamil Headlines
Sinhala Headlines
Lankadeepa: Pensions for the CBSL governors revoked | A cabinet decision obstructs Sampanthan’s official residence; the residence has not been handed over even three months after his demise | A month given for liquor companies to pay tax arrears
Divaina: Israel hit with ballistic missiles to avenge the death of Hezbollah leader; missile that hit Israel destroyed in the air; Britain and the U.S to support Israel; “Iran will have to suffer” – Israeli PM; The next attack will be violent – Iran | Attacking an Omani businessman and destroying his property; brother of former state minister arrested
Ada: Roshan, Channa and Milan join Dilith; Roshan appointed chairperson while Channa was appointed deputy chairperson of the party | “The UNP to also compete under the gas cylinder at the general election” – Wijewardene
Mawbima: Alli Raja commences work to unite the divided North; an attempt to bring all scattered Tamil political parties under a common alliance | Crisis in Mahawela, Matale; school student attacked with batons and killed
Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES
“No need of sympathy towards the Malayaga and Eelam Tamils; need justice” – Mano Ganesan
Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thamilan
Leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Mano Ganesan requested President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka to provide justice to the Malayaga Tamils and Eelam Tamils across the North and East, adding that they no longer need sympathy. Addressing a media conference, he further added that they will extend their fullest support as the Samagi Jana Sandanaya and TPA for punishing Easter Sunday bombing masterminds, anti-corruption, recovering the [illegal] assets being hidden abroad, punishing the thieves involved in the Central Bank bond scam and identifying and punishing the murderers in relation to the killing of journalists including Lasantha [Wickrematunge], [Prageeth] Ekneligoda, [Dharmeratnam] Sivaram and Nadesan.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka should cooperate with the UN’s investigation mechanism – Human Rights Watch
Thinakkural, Virakesari
In a report, the Human Rights Watch highlights: ‘The United Nations Human Rights Council should adopt a resolution on Sri Lanka to enable continued UN monitoring, reporting and evidence collection of rights violations for future prosecutions. President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, who was elected on September 21, 2024, should reverse the policies of his predecessors by cooperating with the UN’s investigation mechanism, ending the use of repressive laws to stifle dissent and preventing security forces from targeting activists, survivors of abuses and victims’ families with threats and reprisals.’
“The ITAK will contest alone” – Sumanthiran
Thamilan, Thinakkural
Former ITAK MP M.A. Sumanthiran, claimed that his party will contest in the upcoming general election alone, under the party symbol. He added that they will decide whether to work with the government or in the Opposition based on the parliament seats they win in the election. He also stated that the privileges provided to the people’s representatives should be restricted.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES
Fertiliser subsidy to be given in two steps; Rs. 15,000 to be given first, the Rs. 10,000 to be given after the election
Ada, Dinamina, Aruna
The Ministry of Agriculture has decided to grant the fertiliser subsidy to farmers in two stages. Accordingly, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture M.P.M. Wickramasinghe stated that the fertiliser subsidy of Rs. 15,000 given to the farmers so far will be released to the farmers’ bank accounts immediately. The money is to be used to buy mud fertiliser for paddy cultivation this season. Additionally, President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka recently took steps to increase the fertiliser subsidy from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000 per hectare, and the secretary further stated that the increased fertiliser subsidy of Rs. 10,000 will be released to the bank accounts of the farmers after the election.
EPDP to compete independently at the general election
Ada, Mawbima
The Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), led by former Minister Douglas Devananda, stated that it will be competing in the 2024 General Election independently. Accordingly, the party stated further that nominations for all the districts in the Northern and Eastern Provinces and Colombo will be submitted. The party stressed that it will not be entering into alliances for the general election.
Pensions for the CBSL governors revoked
Lankadeepa
Pensions for governors of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) have been revoked. An extraordinary gazette released by the CBSL states that all past, present and future governors will not, therefore, receive a pension. Present Governor of the CBSL Nandalal Weerasinghe has released the extraordinary gazette in relation to the move.
HRCSL advises CID to hasten investigations on the scholarship issue
Aruna, Mawbima
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has advised the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to hasten the investigations on the leaked Grade 5 Scholarship examination paper. The commission had advised so after finding out that the investigations on the matter have been left incomplete. The commission also stressed that no decision must be made on the issue until the investigations on it have been completed.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS
President meets seven ambassadors/high commissioners in a day
Mawbima, Divaina, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Thamilan
President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka met with ambassadors and high commissioners of seven countries yesterday (2nd). Accordingly, ambassadors, high commissioners and representatives from Cuba, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Japan, Canada and India participated in meetings with President Dissanayaka. During the meetings, the president spoke on the topics of debt restructuring, the IMF programme Sri Lanka is currently under, providing employment for the youth, prevention of Dengue and encouraging investments, while condemning corruption.
Divaina reports that President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka met with the ambassador of Cuba.
Thamilan, Thinakkural, Thinakaran and Virakesari report that President Dissanayaka met with the high commissioner of India, while Thamilan, Thinakkural and Virakesari report that the president met with the Chinese ambassador.
Virakesari reports that the president met six envoys.
“Bring the dollars that you said we were hiding in Uganda” – Namal challenges Anura
Ada, Aruna, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Former MP Namal Rajapaksa taking to X has challenged President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka to prove his allegations that the Rajapaksa regime has hidden billions of dollars in Uganda and other countries. Rajapaksa, responding to a video of Dissanayaka during his presidential election campaign, stated that the president and his team have been making claims for years that public funds were stolen, and that now is the time to prove these claims.
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Roshan, Channa and Milan join Dilith; Roshan appointed chairperson while Channa was appointed deputy chairperson of the party – Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Thamilan, Virakesari
2. Nominations for the GE to be accepted from tomorrow – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Virakesari
3. Jaishankar to visit Lanka tomorrow – Divaina, Ada, Dinamina, Virakesari
4. Israel hit with ballistic missiles to avenge the death of Hezbollah leader; missile that hit Israel destroyed in the air; Britain and the U.S to support Israel; “Iran will have to suffer” – Israeli PM; The next attack will be violent – Iran – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan