DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS
Tamil Headlines
Virakesari: The SLMC to support Sajith Premadasa; a unanimous decision taken at the meeting of the party’s supreme council | Dilith Jayaweera named the presidential candidate of the Sarvajana Balaya
Thinakaran: “The country will go back to the era of queues if the implementation of the economic strategic plan is not continued” – The president
Thinakkural: A police constable kills three, shoots himself in Monaragala | Who has the majority in parliament since the SLPP has now split? The parliament convenes tomorrow in excitement | “The SLMC will support Sajith Premadasa; our party will negotiate with Premadasa soon” – Rauff Hakeem
Thamilan: The acting IGP appointment issue; the AG is sought for an immediate consultation; letters forwarded by the president and the speaker | Dilith Jayaweera named the presidential candidate of the Sarvajana Balaya | “The TNA (sic) will decide based on the election manifestoes on who to support in the presidential election” – Sumanthiran
Sinhala Headlines
Lankadeepa: The distribution of deeds and the issuance of student insurance halted by the Election Commission | “Podi Hamuduruwo” [Ven. Dr. Galboda Gnanissara Thera] passes away: The cremation ceremony to be sponsored by the state | A group of Chinese nationals infiltrate a paddy storage in Embilipitiya with a letter from a minister
Divaina: A police constable kills three and dies by suicide: Another constable murders a mother and daughter duo
Ada: The shooting incident of the Monaragala constable is still a mystery: A constable kills mother-daughter duo and a sergeant of his own police branch; all murders were committed using the constable’s official T56 weapon
Mawbima: Ampara shakes with a string of murders: A constable from Karandugala kills three and dies by suicide; another constable, and a mother and daughter of the same family among the dead | The convener of the SLPP to Ranil’s side: “I made the decision following my mother’s advice” – Abegunawardhana
Dinamina:An illegal NPP concert in Kuwait: Samanali, Jolly Seeya, and Upekha among the arrested; two out of the arrested are still in detention
Aruna: The issuance of passports reduced further: Only 40 without appointments to be accepted for a day
Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: Daliy News
“The SLMC to support Sajith Premadasa” – Rauff Hakeem
Thinakkural, Virakesari
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has decided to extend conditional support to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming presidential election. SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem stated that the decision to support Premadasa was taken by the party’s Supreme Council during a meeting held yesterday (4th). He further stated that his party’s support for Premadasa will be contingent upon certain conditions and that the SLMC will soon hold discussions with Premadasa to aim for a consensus on specific issues.
“We will share projects and empower the provincial councils” – The president
Virakesari, Thinakaran
President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that the country will most likely return to the era of queues once more if it does not continue to implement the strategic plans of the government. He added that his aim is to delegate the execution of development projects to the provincial councils and empower them so that the burden on the central government can be relieved.
“I will not discuss with the chief justice” – The speaker
Virakesari, Thinakkural
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana stated that he will not discuss the issue of the inspector general of police (IGP) with the chief justice (CJ). The speaker highlighted that he will not hold any discussions with the CJ on the IGP’s matter as there is no legal basis for it. Abeywardana made these remarks in response to the president’s view that the IGP’s issue should be resolved through discussions between the CJ and the speaker.
The AG consulted immediately on the appointment of an acting IGP; letters forwarded by the president and the speaker
Thamilan
It has been reported that President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana have sought instructions from the attorney general (AG) concerning the appointment of an acting inspector general of police (IGP). Accordingly, the president and the speaker have separately written to the AG to seek clarification on whether an acting IGP could be appointed during the presidential election. The letters also reportedly sought clarification on whether the Supreme Court can dismiss the decision taken by the Constitutional Council to appoint Deshabandu Tennakoon as the IGP.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: telo.org
The Kandurata Janatha Peramuna to support Sajith
Divaina, Ada, Mawbima
Leader of the NPP Anura Kumara Dissanayaka stated that most of the MPs who are said to be forming an alliance with the SJB on August 8 had sought to join the NPP but were rejected due to their bad political history. Dissanayaka added that they refused to align with these MPs because the NPP does not want to take anyone who has raised their hands and supported wrong decisions which resulted in the destruction of the country. Dissanayaka made the statement at a farmers’ rally in Bulnewa, Anuradhapura.
Several parties in the North and East to support Ranil
Divaina, Ada
SLPP MP Johnston Fernando stated that whoever leaves the party, its rank and file members will remain. Speaking to the media, Fernando added that although it was reported that 92 MPs have pledged their support to President Wickremesinghe, this is not true at all. He added further that those who have joined hands with the president got elected to parliament only with the backing of Leader of the SLPP Mahinda Rajapaksa.
14 deposits placed so far for the presidential election
Ada
14 accepted political parties and organisations have placed deposits for the presidential candidacy in the presidential election to be held this year. Two out of the 14 candidates are reported to be Buddhist monks. The eight accepted political parties include the SJB and the Nawa Sihala Urumaya.
The SLPP members of Kandy to support Ranil
Divaina
202 members of the SLPP representing the Kandy District together with six Kandy District SLPP MPs have decided to extend their support to President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming presidential election. The decision had been made on August 2 at the Kandy District meeting of the SLPP.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS
Photo credits: Daily News
Dilith Jayaweera named the presidential candidate of the Sarvajana Balaya
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Entrepreneur and Leader of the Mawbima Janatha Party (MJP) Dilith Jayaweera was named the presidential candidate of the Sarvajana Balaya alliance yesterday (4th). Executive Committee Member of the Sarvajana Balaya MP Wimal Weerawansa made the announcement at a convention of the alliance held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo. Key members of the Sarvajana Balaya alliance including MP Wimal Weerawansa, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader MP Udaya Gammanpila, entrepreneur Dilith Jayaweera, MP Gevindu Kumaratunga and several others were present at the occasion.
Rohitha [Abegunawardhana] to support Ranil
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
SLPP National Convenor and MP Rohitha Abegunawardhana announced that he will extend his support to President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming presidential election. Abegunawardhana made the announcement while speaking at an event held in his electorate yesterday (4th), and added that he made the decision in response to requests made by party supporters. Mawbima highlights in its headlines that Abegunawardhana had made the decision based on his mother’s advice. He stressed that his decision is not a move against his leader Mahinda Rajapaksa and added that there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies in politics.
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. The distribution of deeds and the issuance of student insurance halted by the Election Commission – Lankadeepa, Aruna, Thinakkural
2. “Legal measures to be taken against Dayasiri Jayasekara and Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe” – Amaraweeara – Mawbima, Thinakaran
3. “The promises made by the opposition might be suitable for the political stage, but they are not suitable for the country” – The president – Dinamina, Virakesar