[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”5196.5px” custom_margin=”||-277px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”5208.5px” custom_margin=”-36px|auto|-36px|auto|true|” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][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” min_height=”5074px” custom_padding=”0px||30px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]
DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
|
Virakesari: Israel, Iran continue intense conflict | “We will bring Sri Lankas if the war intensifies” – Vijitha Herath Thinakaran: “Import of dairy cows during the previous regime: Rs. 2.11 billion (211 crore) fraud; former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe should be held accountable” – NPP MP Nihal Galappaththi | Some lands held by the navy cannot be released for national security reasons; action to provide compensation or other lands | Chemmani mass grave issue: British MP demands full investigation |
Thinakkural: “The intensification of the Iran-Israel conflict could have a major impact on Sri Lanka; it could cost upto USD 500 million more on fuel; the jobs of 20,000 people in Thamilan: “Measures to rescue Sri Lankans from Israel-Iran conflict” – Minister Vijitha Herath | “Why did the CWC support the NPP?” – Jeevan Thondaman opens up | Announcement for Sri Lankans coming from Israel to receive visa services at the embassy | Iran-Israel conflict raises tensions in the Middle East; missile attack on major hospital in Soroka |
Sinhala Headlines
|
Lankadeepa: Cases filed against 11 including Keheliya: “The cancer medication contained salt water while the nerve medication contained a deadly poison; the investigation was conducted for one year and eight months” – AG | 30 inmates sent home: No documentation to be found; 247 released under the guise of the presidential pardon: The CID report handed over to the acting IGP Divaina: “Deadly bacteria found in immunoglobulin while Rituximab contained salt water; tests conducted in a German laboratory confirms” – AG informs the court | Will the U.S. ‘bunker busters’ destroy Iran’s Fordow nuclear power plant?; “Iran still has not asked for assistance” – Putin; the whole world is on alert –security council calls for an urgent meeting today; heavy damage caused to Israel by missiles launched by Iran Ada: Deadly bacteria contaminated water found in a stock of human immunoglobulin brought under Rambukwella’s tenure as [health] minister |
Mawbima: 123 Chinese nationals who were arrested for committing cyber crimes from a hotel in Kundasale deported from the country; 121 laptops and 206 phones that were used handed over to the Chinese Embassy | Galle Municipal Council battle to take place today Dinamina: “The substandard medicine imported by Keheliya contained only deadly bacteria and salt water” – AG informs the court what a German laboratory report reveals; final report handed over to the court | “No information on 45,000 kg of gems imported to the country in three years” – Minister of industries states in parliament | Aruna: “Substandard medicine scandal: The vaccines on which Rs. 144 million was spent contained only salt water and bacteria” – AG says discovery made in a German laboratory Anidda: Everyone except Keheliya’s son caught for money laundering |
[paywall layout_id=”1906″ service_tags=”TMA,FP” preview=”true”]
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Tamil Guardian
“Attempt to acquire land of Pallimunai navy camp as state property” – MP Selvam alleges in parliament | “Pallimunai land will be lawfully acquired for the navy, and alternative land will be provided” – Deputy defence minister
Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Thamilan, Virakesari
Thinakkural, Thamilan: Addressing parliament yesterday (19th), Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) MP Amirthanathan (Selvam) Adaikkalanathan alleged that the government has taken steps to acquire the private lands in Pallimunai
in Mannar despite the landowners having filed a case in this regard.
Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Virakesari: Responding to Adaikkalanathan, Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara claimed that the government has decided to acquire the particular lands for the navy for security reasons. He added that compensation or alternative lands would be provided to the landowners.
“The intensification of the Iran-Israel conflict could have a major
|
388 elephants, 155 people killed in 2024
Thamilan Responding to a query raised by JJB MP Sunil Rathnasiri, Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody responded that 388 elephants and 155 people were killed due to the human-elephant conflict in the year 2024. He added that Rs. 139.5 million for the victims and Rs. 219.13 million for the damage to assets were paid as compensation. |
UK MP Uma Kumaran calls for proper investigation into Chemmani mass grave
Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thinakaran
In a letter to Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy MP, UK MP Uma Kumaran noted that the recent horrific discovery of another mass grave in Chemmani in the Northern Province, including the bodies of three babies, is a truly shocking reminder of how fresh these atrocities are. She added that a 2024 report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights voiced concerns that there are insufficient resources in Sri Lanka to conduct exhumations in line with international standards, and encouraged the Sri Lankan government to seek international support for this work. Kumaran further added that in light of the UK government’s support for truth, reconciliation, accountability and justice, she would appreciate it if the UK government could set out any current and planned support from the UK government to Sri Lanka to tackle this issue.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Daily Mirror
Cases filed against 11 including Keheliya: “The cancer medication contained salt water while the nerve medication contained a deadly poison; the investigation was conducted for one year and eight months” – AG
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Dinamina, Aruna
A WHO-accredited German laboratory has confirmed that a batch of human immunoglobulin imported to Sri Lanka contained water contaminated with harmful bacteria, while a consignment of the cancer drug Rituximab was found to consist solely of saline solution. The Attorney General’s Department yesterday (19th) informed the court of the above. Accordingly, the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court was informed that laboratory test results revealed both drugs contained substances hazardous to human health. The human immunoglobulin lacked any therapeutic ingredients, and instead was found to be composed of bacteria-contaminated water. Similarly, the Rituximab vials contained no cancer-treating proteins and were made entirely of sodium chloride (saline). It was further revealed that the Government of Sri Lanka had spent Rs. 144 million on the procurement of these drugs based on a cabinet paper presented by the eighth suspect in the case, former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.
CID launches investigations into assets of 28 powerful individuals including politicians
Lankadeepa, Ada, Aruna The Illegal Assets and Property Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has launched investigations into the properties and assets of 28 individuals including current and former MPs and ministers who represented past governments. The investigations have been initiated based on complaints received by the division alleging that these individuals had purchased the relevant properties using funds obtained through unlawful means. Aruna highlights that an investigation has been launched on former Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva, with inquiries launched into his assets as well, according to the division. Some of the politicians under investigation are MPs Namal Rajapaksa, Mahinda Amaraweera, Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, Dilum Amunugama and Pavithra Wanniarachchi. |
Investigations confirm that the student from the University of Sabaragamuwa had been tortured throughout the night – CID
Lankadeepa, Ada, Aruna The investigations conducted so far into the recent incident of ragging at the University of Sabaragamuwa have revealed that ragging was the cause behind the death of the student who committed suicide on April 29 after leaving a letter. It is reported further that the student had been tortured by raggers throughout a whole night. Investigating officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) stated that 30 complaints related to ragging incidents have been received over the past six months, and 10 of those complaints were from the University of Sabaragamuwa. |
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Daily FT
“No one who is employed in jobs in Israel has made a request to return to the country” | There are currently 20,000 Sri Lankans in Israel; they will be repatriated if necessary” – Herath
Divaina, Ada, Dinamina, Aruna, Anidda, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath stated in parliament yesterday (19th) that if the Iran-Israel war situation continues to escalate aircrafts will be deployed from nearby countries to bring back Sri Lankans. Herath stated that preparations are being made and discussions are ongoing in this regard, and highlighted that due to the current war situation some Sri Lankans are facing certain difficulties. However, he stressed that Sri Lankans who are employed in jobs in Israel have not made requests to be brought back to the country. He further mentioned that around 35 Sri Lankans are in Iran and approximately 20,000 are in Israel, and pointed out that airports in Israel have currently been closed.
Keheliya’s family granted bail
Mawbima, Ada, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran
In connection with an investigation conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali yesterday (19th) ordered the release on bail of two daughters of former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and his son-in-law. Chamithri Janinika Rambukwella and Amali Nayanika Rambukwella, daughters of former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, and Isuru Pulasti Bandara, husband of Amali Nayanika, who had been arrested by the Bribery Commission, were released on bail yesterday (19th) afternoon after being produced before the court. During the proceedings, officials appearing on behalf of the Bribery Commission informed the court that the investigation was initiated based on information presented by the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) regarding suspicious bank accounts held by members of Keheliya Rambukwella’s family.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Iran launches fatal attack on Tel Aviv in Israel: hospital also damaged heavily – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
2. Minister Wijepala, MP Dayasiri Jayasekera and MP Namal Rajapaksa collide in parliament over illegally granting presidential pardon to prisoners – Mawbima, Thinakaran, Thamilan
3. “Not one milk-producing cow had been brought: Rs. 2.11 billion given to an Australian company for nothing” – COPE Chair Nishantha Samaraweera | “Import of dairy cows during the previous regime: Rs. 2.11 billion (211 crore) fraud; former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe should be held accountable” – NPP MP Nihal Galappaththi – Lankadeepa, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
4. Israel extends visas of Sri Lankans living there – Lankadeepa, Thamilan
5. Malayalam cinema star Mohanlal Viswanathan visits the parliament – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
[/paywall]
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]