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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: “There are no plans to achieve the targets; it is doubtful whether even the economic growth of 2024 will be achieved in 2025” – Harsha de Silva Thinakaran: “The wage for plantation workers will be Rs. 1,700 hereafter; companies agreed“ – Wasantha Samarasinghe | Government employees’ basic salary increased after 9 years; newly joining teacher will now get Rs. 30,211 basic salary | “There is no room for political interference in the transfer of teachers who are joining now“ – Prime minister | Importance given to the North in the ‘Budget’; governor expresses gratitude to the president on behalf of the people of the Northern Province |
Thinakkural: “[We] will not allow China to threaten India using fisherfolk” – Jaffna fisherfolk association | “Should we go to India for development in the East?; this budget should be scrapped” – MP Nizam Kariapper | “Why Rs. 6,000 million allocated only for the North? Other provinces are being ignored” – MP Chamara Sampath Thamilan: Attack in Sri Lanka! The UK warns | IMF’s decision on Sri Lanka on [February] 28 |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: A specialist doctor at the Mannar Hospital disappears: Phone out of service; service at the children’s ward also halted | Allegations of being in the possession of an illegal vehicle: Former MP Shantha Abeysekara and son arrested Divaina: The Krrish deal: Namal served with indictments and released on bail | T56 that belonged to the PC who fled to Dubai unveils group of police officers who favour the underworld Ada: “Cutting down solar power by 50% is a national crime” – Patali Champika Ranawaka; the CEB informs the measures to be taken for the stability of the grid |
Mawbima: An FR petition against the appointment of the director of the CIABOC: Allegations levelled against Dinamina: The Krrish deal: Namal served indictments; orders given to record fingerprints; surety bail of Rs. 20 million | “Will increase the private sector [minimum] wage to Rs. 27,000 from April 1; the minimum wage act to be amended” – Wasantha Samarasinghe Aruna: The scorch to last till May; only two days of rain Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Daily Mirror
“A resolution should be brought for a federal-based solution; Sinhala people will also accept it” – S. Shritharan points out
Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) MP Sivagnanam Shritharan stated that there was talk of bringing a new constitution during the presidential election, but now it has been shelved. He urged the government to make the best use of the great opportunity it has got. He added that former president Mahinda Rajapaksa had the opportunity during his rule to deliver a devolution of power without opposition from the Sinhala people, and that the current government has a similar opportunity.
Petition with 18,000 signatures handed over to the president
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“[We] will not allow China to threaten India using fisherfolk” – Jaffna fishermen associationThinakkural President of the Jaffna District Rural Fishermen Federation Chelladurai Narkunam claimed that while their fisherfolk are being severely affected by Indian trawlers trespassing in Sri Lankan waters to the North, they will never allow China to use them to undermine India’s national security. Addressing a media conference in Jaffna yesterday (18th), he added that their representatives met with Chinese Embassy officials in Jaffna, and requested them to help their fisherfolk who are being affected by Indian trawlers, further adding that they have also made the same request to the Indian government. He noted that if China expects to use their maritime territory to threaten India’s national security by saying that it is helping the fisherfolk, they will never allow it. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
Allegations of being in the possession of an illegal vehicle: Former MP Shantha Abeysekara and son arrested
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina
Former SJB Puttalam District MP Shantha Abeysekara and his son were arrested by the Police Illegal Assets Investigations Division yesterday (18th). The arrest was made in relation to an illegally assembled vehicle, and the two individuals were arrested when they had visited the police to record a statement about the same. They are expected to be produced before the Mahara Magistrate’s Court today (19th). Earlier this month, officers of the Illegal Assets Investigations Division had found disassembled and concealed an illegally assembled luxury vehicle which had allegedly been used by the former MP.
An FR petition against the appointment of the director of the CIABOC: Allegations levelled against the Constitutional Council that candidates with higher marks were overlooked
Ada, Mawbima A Fundamental Rights (FR) petition was filed before the Supreme Court (SC) seeking a ruling that the appointment of High Court Judge Ranga Dissanayake as the director general of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) is invalid. The petition was filed by a group including Chief Incumbent of the Udawalawe Soma Viharaya Ven. Wewelduwa Gnanaprabha Thera. Respondents named in the petition include the Speaker, members of the Constitutional Council, the secretary to the president, commissioners of the Bribery Commission, the secretary of the Judicial Service Commission, the attorney general and several others. |
Drug test compulsory when returning to police service following suspension or removal from service – IGP releases circular
Divaina, Dinamina The Police of Sri Lanka has announced that all officers seeking reinstatement after being suspended, removed or being inactive for any reason must undergo mandatory drug testing before resuming active duty. Issuing a circular, acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) stresses that the directive requires senior officers and Officers-in-Charge (OICs) across the island to ensure that such personnel undergo drug screening at the Police Hospital. The Police Media Division stated that any officer whose medical report indicates drug use will be permanently barred from reinstatement and will not be allowed to rejoin active duty. |
Indictments served on former minister Piyankara Jayaratne
Ada, Dinamina
Former minister Piyankara Jayaratne was served with indictments before the Colombo High Court yesterday (18th). The indictments were served over charges of allegedly committing an offence of “corruption” by influencing officials of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to deposit an amount of Rs. 494,000 into an account in a bank in Chilaw, during his tenure as the minister of civil aviation. The indictment sheets, filed by the Bribery Commission, were handed over to the court before High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne yesterday (18th), and was subsequently released on bail.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Newswire
The Krrish deal: Namal [Rajapaksa] handed indictments
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Thamilan
The Colombo High Court has served indictments on SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa yesterday (18th) over the alleged misappropriation of Rs. 70 million provided by the Krrish Company for the development of rugby in Sri Lanka. The High Court judge later ordered Rajapaksa to be released on two surety bails of Rs. 10 million each and a cash bail of Rs. 100,000. The judge also fixed the pre-trial of the case for March 27, 2025.
“Commence work on the LG election after March 21” – Opposition requests the EC
Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa requested the Election Commission (EC) to hold the Local Government (LG) election after March 21, when the budget has been concluded. Accordingly, all the opposition members in parliament went to the commission yesterday (18th) and met its representatives and engaged in a discussion regarding the matter. Speaking to the media following the discussion, the opposition leader stated that he had requested the commission to commence the election programme after March 21.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Price of bread reduced by Rs. 10 – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakkural, Thamilan
2. “I do not understand whether this budget is a capitalist or socialist budget” – Harsha de Silva – Divaina, Virakesari, Thamilan
3. Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe explains in parliament how government employee wages will be increased – Mawbima, Dinamina, Thinakaran
4. “No political influence for teacher transfers” – PM Harini Amarasuriya – Ada, Dinamina, Thinakaran
5. “It’s not an ‘IMF budget’, it’s a positive budget” – CBSL governor – Divaina, Thamilan
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