DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS
Tamil Headlines
Virakesari: The announcement of Tamil common candidate on Thursday; final decision after discussion with Thavarasa and Ariyanenthiran | “The president is an expert in dividing the parties” – Namal Rajapaksa | Arrangements made to announce the SLPP candidate tomorrow | Sumanthiran’s private bill on holding provincial council elections under the old system for the second reading today sanna Ranatunga writes to Mahinda Rajapaksa
Thinakaran: Broad alliance of political parties and groups under the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna of the prime minister to support President Ranil (Wickremesinghe) | Telephone number to report election law violations | Deadline extended for postal voting applications | President fulfils requests of Menikdiwela Madhya Maha Vidyalaya students | Pictorial: State funeral for ‘Podi Hamuduruwo’ amid tributes and honours
Thinakkural: Military takes over government in Bangladesh; Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina flees to India | Will parliament be adjourned to prevent a political crisis? | “The government has the majority in parliament; there are no issues in running the government” – Prasanna Ranatunga
Thamilan: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigns: military rule in Bangladesh; protesters bring the parliament under their control
Sinhala Headlines
Lankadeepa: Demonstrators storm palace, capture parliament; (Bangladeshi) prime minister flees the country
Divaina: Palace of Bangladesh’s prime minister falls into the hands of protestors; PM Hasina flees to India without even addressing the nation | Residences of many MPs and ministers torched and destroyed | Army chief announces formation of interim government
Ada: Vacancies for 33,111 police constables
Mawbima: “Public officials will be held singularly accountable for any violation of election rules“ – Chairperson of Election Commission | All ministry secretaries and corporation chairs to appear before the commission today | Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Hasina resigns and flees to India | 90 dead in student conflicts | Suspected military conspiracy
Dinamina:The Leader of the new political alliance supporting the president is Dinesh; more parties to join [the alliance] in the coming days
Aruna: Parliament prepares for a change of sides
Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: FB
Announcement of the Tamil common candidate on Thursday; final decision after discussion with Thavarasa and Ariyanenthiran
Virakesari, Thinakkural
The discussion on finalising the Tamil common presidential candidate ended without a decision yesterday (5th).
The Tamil National Common Structure convened to finalise the name of the candidate.
Following the discussion, Leader of the Tamil National Party, Nallathamby Srikantha claimed that the names of P. Ariyanenthiran and K.V. Thavarasa had been chosen.
He added that they will discuss with the two and announce the final name either on Wednesday (7th) or Thursday (8th).
“The president is an expert in creating division” – Namal Rajapaksa
Thamilan, Virakesari
National Organiser of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Namal Rajapaksa expressed distress, saying that President Ranil Wickremesinghe is adept at creating discord and division within the political party.
He added that at the same time, there is no politics of agreement between the president and the party.
He further added that it is impossible to field someone as a candidate who is not a member of the party.
SLPP to announce the candidate tomorrow
Thinakkural, Virakesari
A decision was taken at a discussion headed by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to announce the name of the candidate of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) tomorrow (7th).
Meanwhile, Mahinda Rajapaksa has been urged to discuss with MPs, former members of the provincial councils and local governments of the SLPP in this regard.
Sumanthiran’s private bill on holding provincial council elections to be taken up for the second reading today
Virakesari
The private member bill presented by Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) MP M.A. Sumanthiran on holding the provincial council elections under the previous electoral system will be taken up for the second reading in parliament today (6th).
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES
Photo credits: Lanka Leader
“Public officials will be held singularly accountable for any violation of election rules“ – Chairperson of Election Commission | All ministry secretaries and corporation chairs to appear before the commission today
Divaina, Mawbima
Chairperson of the Election Commission (EC), R.M.L. Rathnayake stated yesterday (5th) that public officials will be held personally accountable for any violations of laws during the election period, including the misuse of state property and resources or the promotion of presidential candidates.
Speaking to media heads at the EC premises, Rathnayake highlighted that complaints of such violations are still being received and stressed the need for state institutions to be vigilant.
To address these concerns, the EC has convened all Ministry Secretaries, Additional Secretaries, Corporation Chairpersons, and other senior state officials today (6th) to provide guidance on the appropriate use of public resources and property during the election period.
“If disciplinary action is taken against us SLPP ministers who support the president, we will also respond accordingly” – Semasinghe
LMawbima, Ada
State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe has informed the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Sagara Kariyawasam, in writing, that if disciplinary action is taken against SLPP ministers who support President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the presidential election, they will respond accordingly.
He also stated that the SLPP’s decision not to back President Wickremesinghe contradicts the principles of democracy and natural justice within the party, emphasising his commitment to making the right decisions in light of the challenges facing the country.
“Which faction of the SLFP should we engage with?” – Election Commission
Lankadeepa
Media Spokesperson of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) Aiyathurai Sirirangeswaran stated that the party has decided to support President Ranil Wickremesinghe in this year’s presidential election. Sirirangeswaran made the statement while attending a special press conference at the Jaffna Media Association Hall yesterday (31st). He emphasised that Leader of the EPDP Douglas Devananda has been elected by the people and has served continuously as a minister in this country for 30 years because the EPDP is always with the Tamil people of the North and East.
“Comply with the SC decision regarding the IGP” – AG
Aruna
The Attorney General has directed Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana to comply with the recent Supreme Court decision regarding the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
This directive follows the Speaker’s request for guidance from the Attorney General’s office on the ongoing issue.
The Attorney General’s Department is preparing a comprehensive advisory report to help the Speaker navigate the recent legal developments.
However, Speaker Abeywardana has stated he will not engage in discussions with the Chief Justice on the matter, asserting that there is no legal basis for such discussions and he will not enter into negotiations.
The Supreme Court recently issued an interim injunction barring Deshabandu Tennakoon from serving as the IGP.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS
Photo credits: AFP
Bangladesh’s Prime Minister resigns and flees the country | Army chief announces formation of interim government
Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Ada, Aruna, Divaina, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country yesterday (5th) after weeks of violent protests.
Thousands of demonstrators stormed the official residence of the former prime minister and occupied the Parliament building in the capital, Dhaka.
In a national address, Army Chief, General Waker-uz-Zaman declared that an interim government would take over the administration of Bangladesh and urged citizens to remain calm.
(Sarath) Fonseka makes a cash deposit to contest the presidential election
Dinamina, Ada, Divaina, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran
MP, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka made a cash deposit yesterday (5th) to contest the 2024 Presidential Election as an independent candidate.
According to the Election Commission, the deposit was made on behalf of Field Marshal Fonseka by an individual named Dhammika Ratnayake.
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. More than 17 million citizens eligible to vote in the presidential election – Dinamina, Ada, Divaina, Thinakaran, Thamilan
2. “The deadline for accepting postal vote applications has been extended to August 9” – Elections Commissioner General – Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Ada, Thinakaran
3. “We already have a simple majority to run the government. If the party does not make the right decision [regarding its presidential candidate], only two or three members will remain in the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna in the end” – (Prasanna) Ranatunga – Mawbima, Aruna, Thinakkural