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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: Britain’s sanction is unilateral; [it] serves to complicate the national reconciliation process [undertaken by] the government: The government summoned the country’s high commissioner and expressed its dissatisfaction | “Need talks between governments” – Northern Province Fisher People’s Unity | “Bottom trawling can be stopped gradually” – P. Jesuraja, president of an association of fisherfolk with mechanised boats | No changes in imposed tax rates Thinakaran: Britain’s sanction harms government’s accountability, reconciliation efforts and country’s journey forward – Statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Motion to remove Deshabandu to be submitted in parliament on April 8 or 9 | Revised salaries for government employees from April | Photograph: Emirates Airlines has launched its A350 service via Colombo. A flight attendant is delighted to be flying to Colombo with passengers as the first flight arrives at Bandaranaike International Airport |
Thinakkural: Bottom trawling cannot be stopped immediately; talks between fisherfolk of India and Sri Lanka failed; no solutions even after a lengthy discussion | “Solution to be sought at diplomatic level talks” – Northern Province Fisher People’s Unity | “[I] completely reject Britain’s accusation; there is no truth in what they claim” – Mahinda Rajapaksa rages Thamilan: Britain complicates!; Sri Lanka government issues a statement of dissatisfaction rejecting the sanction on military officials | “Gary Anandasangaree is the reason for the (Britain’s) sanction” – Dayan Jayatilleka comments on the sanction on military officials | “Deshabandu [Tennakoon] to be removed through parliament; decision to be made on April 8 or 9” – Nalinda Jayatissa |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Displeasure over Britain’s move to close its doors to Shavendra and the lot; the stance of the government communicated to the British high commissioner | 18% of school children suffer from depression; no proper sleep for more than 63%; some use the phone for more than three hours [a day]; some others have been addicted to drugs and marijuana – The Health Promotion Bureau Divaina: “The unilateral decision made by Britain has complicated the situation further: this does not help [build] harmony in the country” – Minister Vijitha Herath expresses the stance of the government on the sanctions imposed on the ‘war heroes’ Ada: Awareness on sexuality and health among children and youth has decreased; only 42.9% are aware of how to prevent pregnancies; only 43% study health as a subject |
Mawbima: The reconciliation mechanism is in disarray due to British sanctions – A response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the sanctions imposed on army personnel | 58,000 have not received Asweseuma in February: 39,000 do not have bank accounts – Welfare Benefits Board Dinamina: Cabinet approval granted for the president’s five-year anti-corruption plan Aruna: “Organised gangs have infiltrated the police; some officials also among them” – Public Security Secretary Ravi Seneviratne Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Sri Lanka Guardian
“Gary Anandasangaree is the reason for the (Britain’s) sanction” – Dayan Jayatilleka comments on the sanctions on military officials
Thamilan
Former senior diplomat Dayan Jayatilleka claimed that pressure from Canada and its Justice Minister Gary Anandasangaree is behind the UK sanction on the country’s former defence chiefs. Responding in an interview with a Sri Lanka media outlet, he added that attention should be paid to the country’s foreign policy, further adding that Canada’s new Minister of Justice Gary Anandasangaree is the politician who introduced a motion in the Canadian parliament that genocide occurred during the war in Sri Lanka and got it passed with a majority. Jayatilleka noted that this is a purely diplomatic attack.
Therefore, the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry should have called British officials and questioned them about this, he noted.
“Information that some extremist groups are operating in the East;
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“Seeking accountability [for human rights violations and abuses]: Sri Lankan matter; UK government is committed [to human rights in Sri Lanka]” – David Lammy
Thinakkural UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy stated that the sanctions were imposed on former Army Commanders General Shavendra Silva and General Jagath Jayasuriya, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda and one-time LTTE Ampara-Batticaloa commander Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman in accordance with an assurance given to the electorate at the 2024 July general election. He added, “The UK government is committed to human rights in Sri Lanka, including seeking accountability for human rights violations and abuses which took place during the civil war, and which continue to have an impact on communities today.” Lammy noted, “The UK government looks forward to working with the new Sri Lankan government to improve human rights in Sri Lanka, and welcomes its commitments on national unity.” |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Newswire
Ministers and deputy ministers forgo ministerial salaries and fuel allowances
Lankadeepa, Aruna
Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated that all government ministers and deputy ministers have informed their ministries to remove ministerial salaries and only pay them the MP salaries. He made the statement at the press conference held at the Department of Government Information yesterday (26th) to announce cabinet decisions. Jayatissa added that the ministers have also decided not to receive the fuel allowance that ministers receive as members of parliament. He stressed that up until now it had become a tradition in parliament to receive both.
Former opposition leader of the Central Province remanded for accepting bribes
Divaina, Ada, Dinamina Former Central Provincial Council Opposition Leader Chanaka Ailapperuma was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). Ailapperuma was taken into custody for allegedly soliciting and accepting two bribes in exchange for promising government jobs. Ailapperuma was produced before court and remanded until March 28. |
The liquidation of Sathosa halted
Dinamina, Mawbima The cabinet of ministers has approved the reactivation of the Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE), which was previously slated for liquidation. The decision to liquidate the CWE, established under the Cooperative Wholesale Corporation Act No. 47 of 1949, was made during a cabinet meeting on September 2, 2024. Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the proposal submitted by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe received the approval of the cabinet. |
“The exposition of the sacred tooth relic will ensure racial and religious harmony” – Cardinal
Lankadeepa, Dinamina
Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith stated that the exposition of the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha will ensure religious harmony in Sri Lanka, while it helps safeguard Buddhism which is the backbone of national heritage. The Cardinal added that steps taken by the government and the venerable mahanayaka theras to initiate an exposition of the sacred tooth relic is a welcome move, and that everyone must ensure its success. The Cardinal requested Catholics across the country to consider this event as a special one which ensures religious harmony.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Daily News
“The unilateral decision made by Britain has complicated the situation further: this does not help [build] harmony in the country” – Minister Vijitha Herath expresses the stance of the government on the sanction imposed on the ‘war heroes’
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Thamilan
The position of the Government of Sri Lanka regarding the ‘UK Sanctions for Human Rights Violations and Abuses during the Sri Lankan Civil War’ was conveyed by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath to the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick yesterday (26th) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. Accordingly, the minister underlined that this was a unilateral decision made by the UK government which involved an asset freeze and travel ban on the individuals concerned. He added that such unilateral actions by countries do not assist but serve to complicate the national reconciliation process underway in Sri Lanka. Herath added further that the government is in the process of strengthening domestic mechanisms on accountability and reconciliation and any past human rights violations should be dealt with through domestic accountability mechanisms.
“I deny the allegations of the British government” – Mahinda Rajapaksa
Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, issuing a statement, has categorically denied the UK government’s allegations of human rights violations during Sri Lanka’s military operations against the LTTE. The former president expressed displeasure that imposing sanctions including travel bans and asset freezes on Sri Lanka’s former Chief of Defence Staff Shavendra Silva, former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda and former Army Commander Jagath Jayasuriya comes over ‘unproven allegations of human rights violations’ during the war with the LTTE. He added that the armed forces were merely carrying out the orders that were issued to them by him, who was the president at the time. Rajapaksa further added that he expects the incumbent government to resolutely stand by and defend former armed forces personnel who face persecution by foreign governments and organisations.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. “The motion to remove Deshabandu will be passed in parliament on April 8 or 9” – Nalinda Jayatissa – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
2. “Adani’s programme must be brought to our country” | “The country’s economy is still in the ICU” – Ranil Wickremesinghe – Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural
3. U.S. ambassador discusses plantation workers’ needs | “The new government has done justice for the plantation people” – Julie Chung – Dinamina, Thinakaran
4. Maximum retail price set for medicines; Ministry of Health issues gazette – Divaina, Dinamina, Thinakaran
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