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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: The basic salary of state employees to increase by Rs. 15,750 Thinakaran: A budget to improve welfare programs, including in the North and East |
Thinakkural: A budget targeting the election? Thamilan: The president presented the Budget 2025 in parliament |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Minimum wage for state employees increased to Rs. 40,000; minimum wage for the private sector increased to Rs. 27,000 Divaina: Minimum basic wage for state employees increased by Rs. 15,750 Ada: The 2025 maiden budget of the new government released: “Those who take bribes must be afraid” – President |
Mawbima: Budget 2025: no permits or vehicles for MPs Dinamina: The first step to a rich country and a beautiful life: a relief package from the budget Aruna: Budget 2025: in three phases till 2027 – Minimum wages for state employees increased by Rs. 15,750 Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ceylon Today
“Funds have been allocated for Northern roads to cover up issues of Tamils” – S. Shritharan
Virakesari, Thinakkural
Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) MP Sivagnanam Shritharan claimed that allocations have been in the budget for roads in the North, covering up the problems of the Northern Tamil people, adding that it is welcome that more funds have been allocated for education and health.
He stated that they will always support the best decisions taken for the benefit of the country.
Commending that more funds have been allocated for education and health, he pointed out that it is not publicly stated how much has been allocated for defence.
Shritharan praised that the amount allocated for education and health is exemplary.
He claimed that not talking about the problems of the Tamil people, saying that the roots of the diaspora are here is like hiding the real problems of the Tamil people, adding that the leaders should accept that there is a problem.
“Local Government (LG) elections will be held in the middle of April” – Bimal Rathnayake
Thinakkural, Virakesari Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake stated that the nominations accepted for the Local Government elections will be cancelled and new nominations will be called. Addressing parliament, he added that the elections will be held in mid-April, noting that the opposition parties should prepare for the elections without fear |
“A Budget that cares about the welfare of mentally challenged children” – Rauff HakeemThinakaran Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Rauff Hakeem told parliament that the government’s Budget, which addresses the welfare of mentally challenged children, is welcome. He added the previous governments have not paid significant attention to the issues of mentally challenged children, but the current government has paid deep attention. He further added that the families of these children are facing various difficulties. Hakeem noted that the fact that more attention has been paid to the welfare of these children is a special feature. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Newswire
The price of wheat flour reduced by Rs. 10
Divaina, Ada, Aruna
Following an agreement between the Ministry of Trade and the two flour manufacturers, Serendib Flour Mills and Prima, the price of wheat flour will be reduced by Rs. 10 per kg from today (18th).
The price reduction is aimed at reducing the cost of bread and other bakery products, however, there is no official confirmation on whether bakeries will lower their prices in response.
Request to halt the election of office bearers of the BASL, dismissed
Divaina, Mawbima The Colombo District Court, yesterday (17th), dismissed a petition which sought to prevent the holding of the election of office bearers of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL). The petition, which was filed by Attorney-at-Law E. Lilanthi de Silva, was dismissed by Colombo District Judge Sandun Withana. Accordingly, the BASL election for the post of President will proceed as scheduled on Wednesday (19th) with former BASL Secretaries Rajeev Amarasuriya and Dr. Sunil Abeyaratne contesting for the 2025–2026 term. |
“This Budget sounds like it was made by Ranil” – MP Namal Rajapaksa
Ada, Dinamina SLPP Hambantota District MP Namal Rajapaksa stated that the 2025 Budget that was presented in parliament yesterday (17th) looks like a Budget that was made by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Rajapaksa added that this Budget is very similar to the policies put forth by President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The MP further added that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has presented a Budget that is very different from the policies presented during his presidential election campaign. |
“No revolutionary changes to be seen” – Dilith Jayaweera
Ada, Dinamina
Leader of the Mawbima Janatha Party Dilith Jayaweera stated that as a representative of the traditional opposition, he does not like to make statements regarding the Budget without studying it first. Jayaweera added, however, that the Budget was a seemingly traditional one.
He added that he expected a Budget with a lot of revolutionary ideas but stated that there weren’t any revolutionary changes.
Jayaweera stressed finally that a better idea can be given about the Budget after an overall study.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
Budget 2025
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, yesterday (17th), presented the 2025 Budget, which is the maiden budget of the newly elected government. Accordingly, President Dissanayake presented the 79th Budget in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies.
The print media highlighted several notable changes proposed in the Budget as follows: the minimum basic wage of state employees was increased by Rs. 15,750 increasing the minimum wage of state employees to Rs. 40,000; the Employers’ Associations have already agreed to increase the monthly minimum wage for the Private Sector workers from Rs. 21,000 to Rs. 27,000 in April 2025 and to Rs. 30,000 from 2026; all luxury vehicles that require heavy running & maintenance expenses will be auctioned; monthly Mahapola scholarship increased from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 7,500; the government will intervene to increase the daily wages of plantation workers to Rs. 1,700; government expects to develop the 61 remaining tanks in the Trincomalee oil tank complex collaborating with internationally recognised companies; MPs to not be given vehicles of permits.
The president further added: “I can assure you that no elected or appointed official in this Government will seek bribes or favours in return for doing or not doing their jobs. However, in the very unlikely event that anyone among us does bend or break the law, I can promise that whoever is responsible will be investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. This Government will never, ever, tolerate corruption among its ranks. From here on, those who attempt to receive bribes should be afraid. One should not be afraid of not paying the bribe.”
Virakesari and Thinakkural highlighted that Rs. 100 million has been allocated for the development of the Jaffna Library. The print media quoted the president stating that the Jaffna Library was burned for political purposes and will now be developed.
LG Bill passed in parliament with a two-thirds majority
Lankadeepa, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari
The Local Government Elections (Special Provisions) Bill was passed in parliament yesterday (17th) by a special majority, with no amendments.
The Second Reading debate pertaining to the Bill was held yesterday (17th) from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thereafter, 187 votes were cast in favour of the Bill with no votes against.
Speaker of Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne endorsed the certificate on the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill in Parliament, in accordance with Article 79 of the Constitution.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. “A Budget that has been made in accordance with the IMF (conditions)” – Premadasa – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural
2. “A Budget with financial discipline” – Ravi Karunanayake | “What we commenced during our government is being continued by the NPP” – Ravi Karunanayake – Ada, Dinamina, Virakesari
3. “This looks like Ranil’s Budget” – Harsha de Silva – Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural
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