[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” min_height=”5196.5px”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” min_height=”5175.5px” custom_margin=”-33px|auto||auto||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″ min_height=”5080px” custom_padding=”0px|||||”]
DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
|
Virakesari: Arrest the absconding (former IGP) Deshabandu immediately and produce those who helped him in court; Court of Appeal upholds Matara Magistrate’s order, delivers historic verdict | Pictorial: Leader of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) Senthil Thondaman meets Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M.K. Stalin Thinakaran: Court rejects Tennakoon’s writ petition and orders to expedite arrest | “An investigation is also necessary into the many torture camps that operated in the North and East, such as Batalanda, which has left the entire country in fear” – G. Srineshan MP | Tigers [LTTE] is on India’s list of (proscribed) terrorist organisations |
Thinakkural: “Buddha statues as boundary stones of encroached land occupation in the North; how will the Department of Archaeology, which is a Buddhist reflection, deal with all religions neutrally” – Ravikaran MP raises a question in parliament | “Don’t harass the Muslims, the Hindus and the Christians” – [Elayathamby] Srinath MP requests | “Neither should Ranil be arrested nor should his civic rights be revoked” – Gammanpila Thamilan: Arrest Deshabandu wherever he is; court takes action by rejecting writ petition!; order issued to take strict action against those who help Tennakoon hide | “Everyone under the age of 18 is a minor; no racist intent” – Minister Saroja | “Haram in the name of Muslim politics!” – Bimal alleges in parliament |
Sinhala Headlines
|
Lankadeepa: Petition dismissed: those who aided Deshabandu also in trouble; orders issued to pay Rs. 105,023 as litigation fees as well Divaina: Deshabandu’s petition dismissed with a litigation fee of Rs. 150,000: Appeal Court orders CID to immediately apprehend [the former IGP] Ada: Deshabandu’s petition dismissed without being taken up for hearing; “arrest the (former) IGP immediately and enforce the law on those that are aiding and abetting him to stay in hiding” – Appeals Court orders Acting IGP |
Mawbima: Director of ‘Smart Win’ arrested for scamming Rs. 2 billion from Wallapatta cultivation in many areas including Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Puttalam, Chilaw and Ampara; 15,000 individuals across the country tricked by the pyramid scheme | The jailer at Boossa who brought ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa’ to court, remanded Dinamina: Deshabandu’s writ petition thrown out: orders to arrest on sight; “law to be enforced on those who helped him hide as well”; “Petitioner’s failure to comply with law is a bad precedent” – Acting President of the Court of Appeal states Aruna: ”An Aragalaya-like situation can arise if the (former) IGP violates the law” – Acting President of the Court of Appeal states, while dismissing the petition Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
[paywall layout_id=”1906″ service_tags=”TMA,FP” preview=”true”]
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Lanka Truth
“Research at Kurunthurmalai banned” – Hiniduma Sunil Senevi
Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran
Responding to queries in parliament, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Hiniduma Sunil Senevi explained that a special committee has been appointed to investigate the issue of Kurunthurmalai in Mullaitivu, adding that research work on Kurunthurmalai has been banned until the issues that have arisen are resolved.
He further added that there are 3 Tissa viharayas in the northern part of Valikamam. Among them, problems have arisen based on the land of the Tissa viharaya at Thaiyiddy.
Such problems in the North should be resolved with harmony and patience, he noted.
Thinakaran and Thinakkural quoted him saying that at the National Security Council meeting held yesterday (17th), the president advised that steps be taken to ensure that the daily livelihood of the people in the Northern and Eastern Provinces is not affected.
“Buddha statues as boundary stones of encroached land occupation in the North; how will the Department of Archaeology, which is a Buddhist reflection, deal with all religions neutrally” – Raviharan MP raises a question in parliament
Thinakkural Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) MP Thurairasa Ravikaran claimed that in the North, statues of Lord Buddha are being used as boundary stones for land encroachment by some who are not even fit to wear saffron (robes). He charged that the viharayas (Buddhist temples) were built in the North “in violation of court orders” and that they were “symbols of corruption rather than Buddhist symbols.” He also questioned how the Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka, which has a Buddhist temple and the Ashoka Chakra [Wheel] as its symbols, can be a department that can handle the archaeology of all religions in Sri Lanka with neutrality. |
“600 archeological sites in the North; protest at Thaiyiddy with fake documents” – Chamara Sampath
Thinakkural, Thamilan New Democratic Front (NDF) MP Chamara Sampath Dasanayake told parliament that those who protest near the Tissa Viharaya at Thaiyiddy [Tissa Raja Maha Viharaya] claim their lands with fake documents and therefore the settlers should be removed from the area. He added that 600 places have been identified as archeological sites in the Northern Province and they should be protected through a gazette notification. |
“Muslim [politicians] should stop slandering Minister Saroja” – Bimal Rathnayake
Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Thamilan
Addressing parliament yesterday (17th), Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake said that Muslims should reject politicians who do things forbidden by Islam.
He added that decent, educated, accepted people from the Muslim community who follow Islam properly should be chosen.
He claimed that most Muslims voted for the National People’s Power, adding that they have never resorted to racism or sectarianism for votes.
He further highlighted that Muslim politicians are continuously spreading slander about Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj, who is a mother.
“The life, business and politics of those who call themselves Muslim politicians are all haram,” he claimed.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Official FB Page
“Will celebrate the Vesak festival in Nuwara Eliya together with the Malayagam people” – Minister Sunil Senevi
Divaina, Dinamina
Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Hiniduma Sunil Senevi stated that this year’s National Vesak Festival will be held in Nuwara Eliya together with the Malayagam people.
The minister also stated in parliament yesterday (17th) that steps have been taken to allocate Rs. 12 million for this year’s Vesak festival.
Minister Sunil Senevi added that the Vesak festival will be celebrated with the Malayagam people in association with 350 temples and 11 Pirivenas in Nuwara Eliya.
The minister stated that the national Vesak festival should eventually be taken to a place where Vesak lanterns are made (together) with the children of the Malayagam people, and further stated that this is how a great civic life could be created.
The 48-hour postal strike to end at midnight today
Ada, Mawbima, Aruna Postal services across the country were disrupted due to the island-wide postal strike that will end at midnight today (18th). Mawbima reports that the 48-hour postal strike launched by the postal workers has incurred a loss of Rs. 1 billion to the government, while Aruna reports that a loss between Rs. 45 – 50 million was incurred by Sri Lanka Post. About 80% of postal workers island-wide had participated in the strike. Reportedly, the public had been greatly inconvenienced due to the lack of service provided by the postal workers. |
Dilith requests for the Naga Relics to be exhibited
Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna MP Dilith Jayaweera stated in parliament that a Naga Relics Exhibition should be organised in Kelaniya with the same importance and respect as the exposition of the Tooth Relic in Kandy this April. MP Jayaweera made this statement while participating in the Budget Committee Stage Debate in parliament yesterday (17th). |
Stolen mobile phone of Anuradhapura doctor who was abused, found in a forest area
Lankadeepa, Divaina
The Galnewa Police stated that the mobile phone which was stolen from the doctor who was abused in Anuradhapura was found in the forested area in which the suspect had been hiding.
The police further stated that the phone was located after two missions of inspecting the relevant area on Sunday (16th).
The police further added that a foreign live bomb was also found in the place where the suspect had been hiding.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
Deshabandu’s petition dismissed with a litigation fee of Rs. 150,000: Appeal Court orders CID to immediately apprehend [the former IGP]
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
The Court of Appeal, yesterday (17th), dismissed the writ petition filed by former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, seeking an interim injunction to prevent his arrest, as ordered by the Matara Magistrate’s Court.
The order to arrest the (former) IGP was issued due to his involvement in the shooting incident that took place in Weligama, Matara, in 2023.
The Appeal Court has further ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to take immediate steps to arrest Deshabandu Tennakoon and produce him in court.
The Court of Appeal, stated further that anyone that is aiding and abetting the former IGP to stay in hiding will also be brought before the law.
The print media reported that the court also ordered the petitioning party to pay a litigation fee of Rs. 150,000.
“1,960 UNP followers were killed by the JVP” | “The only allegation Ranil had against him was that he gave houses to police officers” – Wajira Abeywardana
Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakkural
Chair of the UNP Wajira Abeywardana stated that the third Chapter of the Batalanda Commission report states that around 1,960 UNP followers were killed by the JVP.
Abeywardana added, quoting the report further, that the damage to state property caused by the JVP was “frighteningly large.”
The UNP Chair further added that the only allegation made against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe by the Batalanda Commission report was that he provided housing to police officers.
He also stated that providing these houses is only a way to take over state and private institutions under the emergency law to protect the country’s democracy.
Abeywardana made these statements while speaking at a media conference held yesterday (17th) at the former President’s office on Flower Road, Colombo 7.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. The incident of forging documents for a land: three including former minister Mervin remanded once again; an overseas travel ban imposed on three in hiding including Prasanna Ranaweera – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari
2. “Another group is prepared to provide evidence on Batalanda” – Tilvin Silva – Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thamilan
3. “Take action against the MP that insulted the lawyer” – Bimal requests Speaker – Lankadeepa, Virakesari, Thinakaran
4. (Medical) health professionals on strike today requesting the benefits that were cut from the Budget – Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakkural
5. Jailer that brought (Ganemulla) Sanjeewa to court remanded – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Aruna, Virakesari
[/paywall]
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]