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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: China’s cooperation will always continue; government says that Sri Lanka will embrace the One China policy | 60 murders in 2024; action needs to be taken says Sajith | Decision regarding all details in one month – Government informs regarding the Hambantota oil refinery | World Bank is providing USD 200 million Thinakaran: Government committed to providing justice for the murders of Lasantha, Thajudeen and Prageeth (sic) | Challenges in bringing Arujuna Mahendran to the country | 4,350 houses to be constructed for the plantation community |
Thinakkural: Will ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ help with the [implementation of] 13A? MP Sathiyalingam expects | Prevention of Terrorism Act to be repealed very soon Thamilan: Prevention of Terrorism Act removal! Government announces yesterday (22nd) | [What is the] fate of the Sri Lankans in the Russian troops? MP Shritharan questions in parliament | Kalmunai Divisional Secretariat issue: Final decision to be reached soon says Deputy Minister Abeyratne |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: “The Presidents’ Privileges Act to be changed soon| Presidents come willingly to work and go home| Mahinda’s monthly bill at 4.6 million| Chandrika’s at 2 million| Maithri’s at 9 lakhs| Gotabaya and Hema have handed over the residences| Ranil has not occupied a house| The presidential palace in Nuwara Eliya to a hotel| The presidential palace in Jaffna to a university” – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake Divaina: Is it her fault or the fault of society?| The woman who was ‘touched’ while waiting on the streets dead by suicide in the Maradana Police remand | She was arrested on a warrant | A profile of a social tragedy | An investigation from the Human Rights Council | The protection of the custodians is the responsibility of the police Ada: Revenue of Rs. 10.9 billion from rice import tax | It was revealed that it was due to the Rs. 65 duty levied on rice imports at the Finance Committee meeting | Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement also approved |
Mawbima: Vehicle permits, requested by 20,000 including government employees, cancelled | High Court judge requests a report from a hospital in Colombo as to which doctor gave the report on Johnston’s back pain Dinamina: Seventy million Krrish deal: CIABOC to commence investigations against Namal Aruna: A landowner gives death threats if he is taxed (obstructing the duties of the Naragala grama niladhari) Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Sri Lanka Brief
Prevention of Terrorism Act to be repealed very soon
Thinakkural, Thamilan
Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara and the Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Sunil Watagala stated that the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) will be repealed. They also added that a ministerial sub-committee has been established to examine the repeal of the PTA and the drafting of new legislation. They made these statements while addressing parliament yesterday (22nd) during the debate on the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ programme.
Government committed to providing justice for the murders of Lasantha, Thajudeen and PrageethThinakaran President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that the government is committed to investigating and providing justice for the cases of Lasantha Wickrematunge, Wasim Thajudeen and Prageeth Eknaligoda. He pointed out that many detectives who were crucial to these investigations had been transferred during the tenure of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and that the current government is working to reinstate these detectives and recruit new officers. Dissanayake made these statements during a TV interview. |
SriLankan Airlines: Loss of Rs. 451.3 billion from 2014 to 2023Thinakaran, Thinakkural Responding to a question in parliament by SJB MP Chaminda Wijesiri, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Harshana Suriyapperuma stated that SriLankan Airlines has incurred a loss of Rs. 451.3 billion from 2014 to 2023. Suriyapperuma also noted that between 2023 and 2024, SriLankan Airlines made a profit of Rs. 3.8 billion. He added that factors including mismanagement, the increase in fuel prices, the suspension of flight services and the payment of compensation for losses contributed to the company’s losses. Furthermore, he stated that factors such as the Easter Sunday attacks, the COVID-19 pandemic and the decline in tourist arrivals contributed to the losses incurred by the airline. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Daily FT
“The reduction in electricity tariffs in effect from Jan. 17th | The tariff for industries and hotels down by 33% |Change will be reflected in the next month’s bill” – Minister of Power and Energy Kumara Jayakody
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Ada
Minister of Power and Energy Eng. Kumara Jayakody stated in parliament yesterday (22nd) that the electricity tariffs for industries and hotels will be reduced by about 31% during the price revision. He also stated that steps will be taken to reduce the electricity tariffs from 12.00 midnight on January 17 and that the change will be reflected in the next month’s electricity bill. Accordingly, he further stated that the electricity tariff revision will reduce the electricity bill of households by 21% and that the Rs. 6 rate for units 0 – 30 will be reduced to Rs. 4. The Rs. 9 rate for units 31 – 60 will be reduced to Rs. 6. The Rs. 18 rate for units 61 – 90 will be reduced to Rs. 15. The Rs. 30 rate for units 91–120 will be reduced to Rs. 20. The Rs. 42 rate for units 121–180 will be reduced to Rs. 33. The Rs. 65 rate for units above 180 will be reduced to Rs. 52.
Trial against Pujitha and Hemasiri begins over the Easter Sunday attacks
Dinamina, Mawbima The criminal case filed against former Inspector General of Police Pujitha Jayasundara and former Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Hemasiri Fernando for failing to take action to prevent the Easter Sunday bomb attack began to be re-examined yesterday (22nd) before the Colombo Special Three-Judge High Court, in accordance with the Supreme Court order. The case was filed under 855 indictments, including dereliction of duty, for failing to take action to prevent the Easter attacks despite receiving intelligence information. |
“Rice is needed for food as well as for beer, and as chicken feed| Ensuring food security a key policy” – Minister K.D. Lal Kantha
Aruna, Mawbima To address policy decisions related to ensuring food security, the Food Policy and Security Committee chaired by Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha, along with Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, convened a meeting for the first time yesterday (22nd). During the meeting, it was emphasised that accurate data and information are essential for making informed policy decisions related to food security. The government highlighted that it is unwilling to take risks by making decisions without reliable data. Consequently, establishing a robust data and information system has been identified as a top priority. The minister of agriculture further highlighted the need to provide rice not only for direct consumption but also as an essential resource for industries such as poultry, egg production and beer manufacturing, all of which contribute to human consumption. He stressed the importance of considering these needs in the implementation of the government’s progressive agricultural policies. Additionally, the minister emphasised the necessity of studying the country’s food consumption patterns to foster a healthier population and minimise food waste. He advised committee members to take appropriate steps in this regard. |
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
CIABOC probes Namal over Krrish Transworks Square lease ‘irregularity’
Divaina, Dinamina, Ada, Thinakaran, Virakesari
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has launched a separate inquiry into opposition parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa concerning the alleged financial irregularities amounting to Rs. 70 million during the lease of 4.3 acres of land at the Krrish Transworks Square in Colombo Fort. The case involving alleged financial irregularities amounting to Rs. 70 million during the lease of 4.3 acres of land at the Krrish Transworks Square in Colombo Fort was taken up before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday (22nd). Rajapaksa, who has been named as a suspect in the case and is currently out on bail, was present in court during the trial. During the proceedings, investigating officers of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) informed the court that the CIABOC has launched a separate inquiry into Rajapaksa concerning the same incident. Following the submissions, the Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura directed that the ongoing case being handled by the CID be taken up again on June 4, pending the attorney general’s advice.
President reveals high rent costs of former presidents’ residences
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Thinakkural
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake revealed the high costs associated with the residences of former presidents, emphasising the need for significant reforms. He said that it was estimated that Mahinda Rajapaksa’s house in Wijerama, which sits on an acre and 13 perches of land, is worth Rs. 350 million, with a monthly rent of Rs. 4.6 million. Similarly, Chandrika Kumaratunga’s house, which is over 9,000 square feet and includes additional space for security personnel and office use, totals over 15,000 square feet and has a monthly rent of Rs. 2 million. Maithripala Sirisena currently resides in a smaller house with a monthly rent of Rs. 900,000. He expressed gratitude to former president Ranil Wickremesinghe, who, after leaving office, did not take a government house and returned to his own home. Hema Premadasa also returned her government house following public scrutiny. A committee was formed to investigate the matter, resulting in Gotabaya Rajapaksa returning his house. However, three former presidents — Chandrika Kumaratunga, Maithripala Sirisena and Mahinda Rajapaksa — still retain their government houses. President Dissanayake emphasised the need for political ethics, stating that he would not require a house or security after his retirement. He called for a political culture where leaders use only what is necessary while in office and make sacrifices for the country’s betterment. Regarding the presidential residences, the government is evaluating all properties to determine how they can be used for economic benefits. Proposals include converting the presidential residence in Nuwara Eliya into a hotel and using the one in Jaffna for an IT university. The aim is to utilise these properties in ways that benefit the economy and society, he stated further.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Magistrate rejects police request to summon MP Archchuna over alleged traffic violation case due to the discrepancy in the name – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Ada, Virakesari
2. Revenue of Rs. 10.9 billion from rice import tax; revealed to be due to the Rs. 65 duty levied on rice imports – Ada, Virakesari, Thinakkural
3. “Permission not granted to import 20 crores of coconuts” – Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe | Coconut chamber (CCCI) urges government to import 200 mn coconuts to prevent crisis | The prices of coconuts now at Rs. 140 – 240 – Divaina, Dinamina, Mawbima, Aruna, Thinakkural
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