DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS
Tamil Headlines
Thamilan: ITAK MPs meet the president | “The opposition parties involved in racism” – Archchuna alleges | Salute to ‘methagu’ (His Excellency); Archchuna praises in his maiden speech
Sinhala Headlines
Lankadeepa: “361 bar licences issued with the election just around the corner” – A revelation from the leader of the House | 50 merchants in line to import rice from abroad | The rice scarcity is serious: Buckets in Sathosa are empty, no rice in supermarkets as well
Divaina: “The previous government has issued 361 bar licences between January 1 and September 21 this year; 172 wine store permits also in the midst” – Bimal Rathnayaka
Mawbima: “Three new acts to recover the stolen assets” – Minister Harshana Nanayakkara tells parliament | The water of the Weheragala Reservoir flows into the ocean while paddy fields are going dry; massive protests from the farmers
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES
“The government needs a few months to release political prisoners” – Minister of Justice
Thamilan, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
Responding to queries raised by Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) MP Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara stated that the government needs a few months to take steps on releasing political prisoners and those who have been held for a long time without evidence. He added that releasing them was also assured in the policy statement, but it is not feasible to do it within a few months of coming to power.
“We are ‘Sri Lankans’ only in words; we do not have rights” –
Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam
Thinakkural
All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam claimed that the government should act in accordance with a new policy on human rights. He added that we (Tamils) should examine whether we are entitled to legitimate rights when we act within the identity of ‘We are Sri Lankans’. He further added that his party has taken into consideration the matters mentioned in the president’s policy statement, and that they accept the statement that racism and religious intolerance should be completely eradicated.
“The land issues can be resolved with a two-thirds majority” – Thigambaram
Virakesari
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Palani Thigambaram stated that the issues prevailing in the Hill Country for the last 200 years cannot be resolved overnight. He added that they can be resolved phase by phase. He further added that the government can resolve the land-related issues as it has a two-thirds majority in parliament.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES
[W.M.] Mendis’ [liquor manufacturing] licence to be suspended
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina
The Excise Department of Sri Lanka (EDSL) stated that the liquor manufacturing licence issued to W. M. Mendis & Co. Limited will be suspended from today (5th) due to its failure to pay Rs. 5.7 billion in excise taxes and surcharges. The department further stated that measures have been taken to suspend the liquor manufacturing process from today (5th) and to not renew the other licences issued to the company from December 31 onwards if the company continues non-payment of tax arrears and surcharges.
Period to submit income tax returns extended till December 7
Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Aruna
The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has extended the deadline for filing income tax returns for the year of assessment 2023/2024, due to a large population of the country being affected by recent severe weather conditions. Under the Inland Revenue Act, No. 24 of 2017, taxpayers are required to file their returns within eight months following the end of each assessment year. This year’s deadline, November 30, 2024, fell on a Saturday, and the IRD had made arrangements for offices to remain open on the weekend, providing technical assistance for online filings and additional support for senior citizens. However, heavy rains, floods, landslides and strong winds since November 23 have disrupted normal life across many parts of Sri Lanka, creating significant challenges for taxpayers and accountants in meeting the deadline. Therefore, acknowledging these difficulties, the IRD made arrangements for the deadline to be extended to December 7.
“The IMF agreement was amended” – Bimal Rathnayaka
Mawbima
Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayaka stated that the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was amended and that the whole country will be able to see such amendments through the budget. He added that there has been some discussions regarding revision of taxes among the public and added further that the president alone has no control over the taxes as that type of change can only be made through an act.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS
“Three new acts to recover the stolen assets” – Minister Harshana Nanayakkara
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara stated that the government is planning to present three bills to parliament within the first quarter of next year aiming to recover stolen assets through money laundering, drug trafficking etc. Speaking during the parliament debate on the government’s policy statement delivered by the president, Nanayakkara stated that the three legislations are the Proceeds of Crime Bill, the Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency Bill and amendments to the Audit Act.
“Although there were 244 maha viru commemorations last month, only 10 of them displayed LTTE symbols; freedom of speech must not be used to incite racism and anti-religious sentiments” – Minister Ananda Wijepala
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural
Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala, addressing the recent arrests made in relation to maha viru commemorations in the North, stated that the government respects the right of all citizens, whether from the North or South, to commemorate the death of a loved one. He added that, however, any commemoration involving the display of flags, logos or symbols associated with the LTTE, which is a banned organisation, is unacceptable. Wijepala further added that according to police reports, 244 commemorative ceremonies were held in the North with 10 of them featuring LTTE symbols, and that the investigation into these 10 ceremonies is underway.
Tamil newspapers highlight MP Dayasiri Jayasekara’s comments claiming that the police have discriminated against the people of the North and South, claiming that two laws have been used to file charges on similar offences – in the South the charges have been filed under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) while in the North charges have been filed under the Penal Code. Responding to his statement, Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara stated that some groups are engaged in spreading fake news, and Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala stated that there was a conspiracy to pit North and South against each other.
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. “The previous government has issued 361 bar licences between January 1 and September 21 this year; 172 wine store permits also in the midst” – Bimal Rathnayaka – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
2. Hirunika acquitted in the contempt of court case – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
3. The policy statement of the government passed unanimously – Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Thinakaran, Thamilan
4. “Focus on solution for the Tamils will be in the new constitution; no solution should create conflicts and divisions between the races; no decision can be taken in a hurry” – President Anura specifies in his meeting with the ITAK MPs; ITAK insisted on a federal solution – Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan