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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: “If Deshabandu [Tennakooon] will not come out, we will freeze his assets; Ranil cannot escape hereafter” – Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala | “The date for the [local government] election will be announced after March 20” – The election commissioner Thinakaran: “Ranil’s Al Jazeera interview; new investigations to be conducted“ – [Sunil Watagala] | “The assets of [Deshabandu] Tennakoon to be frozen if he evades court“ – [Sunil Watagala] | “False propaganda that solar power is not being purchased” – [The Ministry of Energy] |
Thinakkural: “We will search for the missing in the North and the South and establish justice; we did not stop any [investigations] and we will not stop either“ – Minister Vijitha Herath | “Investigations against Ranil“ – Sunil Watagala | “Ranil’s civic rights should be revoked“ – The FSP insists | “A report on the Batalanda massacre to be submitted to the cabinet; the allegations against Ranil cannot be dismissed” – Nalinda Jayatissa Thamilan: “A secret ‘deal’ between Tiran [Alles] and Anura [Kumara Dissanayake]; this is the reason for not arresting Deshabandu Tennakoon“ – Champika Ranawaka | “The ITAK will contest separately; it will not contest in Colombo; a decision taken at the central committee meeting” – M.A. Sumanthiran | The local government election: 17 million qualified to vote; the date for the election to be announced on [March] 20 |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Allegations regarding forged dates: The release of vehicles imported after the ban was lifted, halted; an investigation from Sri Lanka Customs; “The investigation is real, the allegations are false” – The media spokesperson of Sri Lanka Customs | Where are they? What happened to them? Sewwandi 22 days, Deshabandu 10 days and Prasanna Ranaweera three days; still missing | The Ganemulla Sanjeewa murder: A statement recorded from the magistrate Divaina: Two who sustained injuries due to a shooting in Akarawita, hospitalised; “You did not die yet, did you? Be careful” – Six threatening calls from Dubai made to a close friend of Padme before the attack; tensions between Sanjeewa’s and Padme’s clans are worsening Ada: Missing! Ishara 20 days, Deshabandu 11 days and Prasanna Ranaweera four days; Deshabandu and Ranaweera prepared to surrender to the court |
Mawbima: Will have to reduce minister and MP privileges further by May: An IMF condition | SJB MP Jagath Vithana takes over the SLTB on Minister Bimal’s invitation Dinamina: “The law to be enforced on the Batalanda report soon” – Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala Aruna: “University teachers to engage in trade union battle if salary issues are not resolved” – The FUTA writes to the president Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Sri Lanka Guardian
“A secret ‘deal’ between Tiran [Alles] and Anura [Kumara Dissanayake]; this is the reason for not arresting Deshabandu Tennakoon” – Champika Ranawaka
Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Leader of the United Republic Front (URF) Patali Champika Ranawaka claimed that there is a secret deal between former Public Security Minister Tiran Alles and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. He futher stated that former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon remains untouched as Alles is protecting him, and added that the president will not take any action against Alles. Ranawaka also noted that while Priyankara Jayaratne was arrested over a Vesak card, former Governor of the Central Bank Arjun Mahendran, who was involved in the Central Bank bond scam, remains free.
“The ITAK will contest separately; it will not contest in Colombo; a decision taken at the central committee meeting” – M.A. Sumanthiran
Thamilan, Virakesari, Thinakkural Acting General Secretary of the ITAK M.A. Sumanthiran claimed that his party will contest in the upcoming local government election separately across the North and the East. He added that the central committee of the party has also decided to jointly contest with other Tamil parties for certain LG bodies such as the Vavuniya North, Eravur and Sammanthurai Pradeshiya Sabhas. Sumanthiran further stated that the committee has also decided to contest for the Colombo Municipal Council. |
“We will search for the missing in the North and the South and establish justice; we did not stop any [investigations] and we will not stop either” – Minister Vijitha Herath
Thinakkural Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath claimed that the NPP government has been taking steps to strengthen laws to protect human rights. He added that they will search for those who had gone missing in the North and the South and deliver justice. Herath further stated that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed a committee to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and discussions are underway on replacing the Online Safety Act (OSA). |
“There won’t be any justice through a domestic mechanism” – Shanakiyan quotes RW’s interview
Virakesari
ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam stated that they [his party] have been insisting that justice would not be provided through a domestic mechanism [for human rights violations], and therefore, they are calling for an international mechanism. He added that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had shown that he was a rival of the Rajapaksas, is now justifying the war crimes allegations levelled at former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Lankaleader.lk
The Kataragama basnayake nilame to the CID today
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Aruna
Basnayake Nilame [lay custodian] of the Ruhunu Maha Katharagama Devalaya Dishan Gunasekara was called to appear before the CID today (10th). Gunasekara was called to appear before the CID due to a complaint lodged by a civil activist regarding the construction of a ward at the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital with the funds collected at the Kataragama Devalaya. The basnayake nilame stated that he intends to proceed with transparency throughout the investigation.
IMF support for Sri Lanka to continue
Lankadeepa Managing Director of the IMF Kristalina Georgieva stated before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that the IMF will continue to support Sri Lanka’s efforts at development, eradicating poverty and elevating the standards of living of Sri Lankan citizens. Georgieva also congratulated the president on completing the third review for the 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement with the IMF. The MD made these remarks during an online discussion held with Dissanayake. |
MPs who received compensation for burnt houses have also taken houses in Viyathpura
Dinamina Deputy Minister of Housing T.B. Sarath revealed that 76 houses have been allocated from the Viyathpura housing complex to the MPs and ministers of the previous government who had also taken steps to claim compensation for their houses that had been burnt down during the Aragalaya period. The deputy minister emphasised that these 76 houses have been given on an installment basis where 25% of the value of the house would be paid within a year and the rest over 15 years. Watagala added that the government has suffered a massive loss by providing these houses at concessional prices to the former MPs. |
Reduce the benefits of MPs and ministers by May: An IMF condition
Mawbima
In their series of recommendations for Sri Lanka, the IMF has recommended that the Government of Sri Lanka curtail the benefits awarded to ministers, deputy ministers and MPs. The IMF has emphasised that Sri Lanka undertakes this commitment as a part of the measures taken to follow the series of recommendations given by the IMF. The Presidential Secretariat has been tasked with completing the estimations for the move by May, 2025.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Newswire
“The IGP wouldn’t have had to hide if he had worked in accordance with the law; the law to be enforced if he does not come out of hiding” – Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala
Divaina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Deputy Minister of Public Security Sunil Watagala stated that if former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon continues to remain in hiding while evading court proceedings, his movable and immovable assets will be frozen in accordance with legal provisions. Watagala added that the assets can be frozen under the circular already issued by acting IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya. A warrant for Tennakoon’s arrest has been issued, and authorities have emphasised that any individual aiding him will also face legal consequences.
Changes made to several high posts in the police; four SSPs given DIG posts
Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakaran, Thamilan
Several officers of the police, including nine superintendents of police (SSP) and 28 officers-in-charge (OICs), have been transferred with immediate effect. The police stated that the transfers were made with the approval of the National Police Commission (NPC). Accordingly, the director of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has also been given a transfer. Additionally, four SSPs have been appointed to the posts of acting deputy inspectors general of police (DIGs) with immediate effect.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. The COPE grants approval to increase the excise tax – Ada, Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
2. 18 parties and 57 independent groups submit deposits for 168 local government bodies – Divaina, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
3. Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha land sold using forged documents: Former MP Prasanna Ranaweera has gone into hiding – Divaina, Dinamina, Thinakaran
4. “The law to be enforced on the Batalanda report soon” – Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala – Dinamina, Thinakkural
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