DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS
Tamil Headlines
Sinhala Headlines
Lankadeepa: 38 project offices removed from the Presidential Secretariat; officials [transferred] to the Ministry of Public Administration | The control price of rice increases by Rs. 10; the president directs rice mill owners to provide rice without any shortages
Divaina: “No playing with rice; the wholesale price of nadu rice to be Rs. 225 while the retail price is to be Rs. 230” – The president informs the rice mill owners directly| The Assad regime that ruled Syria for 54 years, collapses: The president flees the country | The search for rice stocks in mills, begins
Ada: The prices of three types of rice increased following the new control price: “Strictly enforce the law against those who violate the control price” – The president
Mawbima: The rice crisis worsens | “Will take the next step if the situation is not controlled” – The president shines a red light on rice mill owners
Dinamina: “The control price [of rice] to be strictly enforced” – The president emphasises | Photograph: Diplomats participate in fashion show
Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES
“A federal solution is the final one” – Northern [political] representatives inform the high-level delegation from Switzerland
TThinakkural, Virakesari
A delegation of Tamil political leaders including the ITAK, held a discussion with a delegation headed by Tim Enderlin, the head of the Peace and Human Rights Division at the State Secretariat of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in Bern. Commenting on the discussion, ITAK MP S. Shritharan stated that with regard to the ethnic issue of the Tamil people, they are requesting for a federal system to be established in Sri Lanka, and added that it is not about dividing the country. He further stated that they had emphasised to the Swiss delegation that they require a stable system of governance where powers cannot be taken away. Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Siri Walt also participated in the discussion.
“Cannot accept a domestic mechanism” – The relatives of the disappeared
Thinakaran
The Association for the Relatives of the Enforced Disappearances claimed that it is not prepared to accept any domestic mechanisms for the disappearances. Addressing a media conference in Jaffna, the association emphasised that it is rejecting domestic mechanisms and is looking for an international investigative mechanism. The association also added that the government is attempting to end the issue by issuing death certificates and compensation through the Office on Missing Persons (OMP). It noted that there are 18,817 relatives of the disappeared in the eight districts of the North and East.
“Indian tribunal upholds an extension on the ban on the LTTE
Thamilan
An Indian tribunal has upheld an extension of a five-year ban on the LTTE. The tribunal comprising Delhi High Court Judge Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora observed that the objective of the LTTE for a separate homeland (Tamil Eelam) for all Tamils threatens the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. The tribunal further noted that the LTTE continues to indulge in activities prejudicial to the integrity and security of the country.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES
“Will extend our support to retrieve the money that was stolen from the country” – US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu
Lankadeepa, Ada, Dinamina
US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu stated that the US government is committed towards supporting Sri Lanka’s on-going anti-corruption initiatives. Lu made the statement during a meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held at the Presidential Secretariat on Saturday (7th). The assistant secretary of state also noted that the US is prepared to provide financial and technical assistance to strengthen Sri Lanka’s security and economy. He further added that the US government is willing to offer technical expertise to help recover the funds that were illegally taken out of the country.
“No electricity [tariff] amendments for six months” – The CEB
ADivaina, Aruna
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) notified the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) on Friday (6th) that it proposes to maintain the prevailing tariff structure for the first six months of 2025. Accordingly, if the regulator accepts this proposal, there will be no electricity price reduction – or increase – until June next year. The CEB has added that the electricity bill can only be reduced by 1% under the current situation. The PUCSL will review the proposals made by the CEB and revert in January 2025.
Lohan remanded for threatening a lawyer involved in accident
Lankadeepa, Dinamina
Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Ratnayake ordered former Minister Lohan Ratwatte, who was arrested by the Colpetty Police for allegedly driving a defender under the influence of alcohol and causing an accident in the area, to be remanded until today (9th). Ratwatte had also allegedly threatened a lawyer who had been a passenger in the vehicle that met with the accident.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS
“Will take the next step if the situation is not controlled” – The president shines a red light on rice mill owners
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake imposed control prices on rice on Saturday (7th), following the shortage of rice stocks due to possible hoarding. Accordingly, the president directed rice traders to sell nadu rice to consumers at a wholesale price of Rs. 225 per kilogram and a retail price of Rs. 230 per kilogram. Dissanayake also instructed the officials of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) to closely monitor the situation over the next 10 days and strictly enforce the law against rice mill owners who fail to comply with the control prices. The decision to set a control price for rice was made following a massive shortage of rice in the retail market. The situation is suspected to have arisen due to the hoarding of rice stocks by rice mill owners.
The Consumer Affairs Authority combs over rice mills in Polonnaruwa | Rice stocks brought to Dambulla
Dinamina, Mawbima, Aruna, Divaina, Lankadeepa, Ada, Anidda, Thinakaran
The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) inspected major rice and paddy mills in the Polonnaruwa District yesterday (8th), following directives issued by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Saturday (7th). The inspections had been carried out under the powers of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 09 of 2003. The CAA officials examined paddy warehouses and rice mills in the district to gather information about available paddy stocks and the quantities of rice being released to the market daily.
Additionally, Lankadeepa, Ada, Dinamina and Thinakaran report that stocks of Araliya rice have been brought to Dambulla following the statement made by Dissanayake regarding the control price of rice.
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Imported rice to arrive in the country at the end of the week – Lankadeepa, Ada, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
2. The Assad regime that ruled Syria for 54 years, collapses: The president flees the country – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
3. The leader of Jaffna’s Ava gang captured in Canada – Divaina, Dinamina, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan