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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: “The government is trying to blame the military for the bombing; what the minister says is wrong” – Gammanpila | “President Anura Kumara is subservient to India; we must oppose plans to provide the people’s personal data [to an Indian company]” – Wimal Weerawansa | A police sergeant of the State Intelligence Service remanded over the Easter Sunday attacks | Photograph: Minister Nalinda Jayatissa visits the Jaffna Teaching Hospital Thinakaran: “The court to decide on the carbon tests on the Chemmani mass grave” – Executive Director of the OMP J. Thatparan | “New information on the Easter Sunday attacks will be provided to the public in due course” – The PM | Two arrested on suspicion of illegally importing motorcycles |
Thinakkural: We must insist with one voice that an international investigation [be conducted]; we must not allow it to be blocked within a domestic investigation” – MP Gajendrakumar calls on all parties for a meeting | “The Eelam Tamil refugees should not be sent back by force” – Film Director Gowthaman | “The government will not hold the provincial council elections as it is aware of its defeat” – Ajith P. Perera | “An attempt to shift the blame for the Easter Sunday attacks on to the Tamils” – S. Shritharan Thamilan: “Are Tamils the culprits? Attempts to cover up many incidents” – MP Shritharan in Kotagala | Eric Meyer nominated as the new US ambassador to Sri Lanka | Fuel cut off during take-off: Air India flight’s final moments; shocking details about the accident in the investigation report |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: “The salaries of government employees who haven’t submitted asset declarations to be deducted” – The bribery commission sends a letter to government organisations; 1/30 of the daily wage to be deducted starting from today Divaina: A kingdom of vehicles at the Hambantota Bird Park; secrets revealed alongside 21 illegally imported motorcycles; “Many illegal activities have taken place; blessings received from a former president as well” – The police | 1,000 imported vehicles stuck at the port for two months! The cause is due to an issue related to letters of credit; the Vehicle Importers Association of Sri Lanka expresses displeasure Ada: 100 complaints received about pyramid schemes; 22 organisations banned; “’Pyramid is a trap – don’t get into the wrong track’; the awareness week on prohibited pyramid schemes to commence today ” – The CBSL | 21 motorcylces worth Rs. 250 million found in a warehouse at the Hambantota Bird Park; the park manager and the warehouse keeper remanded |
Mawbima: Rs. 1 billion mysteriously appears in the account of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA); an investigation underway to identify the source | The shooter of 10 shooting incidents islandwide arrested; he was paid Rs. 100,000 per shooting from Dubai Dinamina: Incurring a loss of 26.2 million for the government: Rajitha [Senarathne] goes into hiding; his phone is also switched off; the house was closed when multiple visits were made to arrest him; a prescription produced through a lawyer claiming that he is ill | Five building complexes worth 1.81 billion constructed during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s time in Matara, abandoned Aruna: 14 economic centres to be given to a private company; the All Ceylon Dedicated Economic Centres Collective and Manning Trade Association warn that a protest will be launched if the decision is not reversed Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Lanka Leader.lk
“Are Tamils the culprits? Attempts to cover up many incidents” – MP Shritharan
Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
ITAK MP S. Shritharan stated that no action has been taken against military personnel involved in genocide and war crimes, with an ongoing effort to portray the Tamil side as the culprit instead. Speaking in Kotagala on Saturday (12th), Shritharan added that while an illusion is created that Tamils were behind events like the Easter Sunday attacks, the government has not pursued any action against the Rajapaksa family, who were behind it and formed the government.
“We must insist with one voice that an international investigation [be conducted]; we must not allow it to be blocked within a domestic investigation” – MP Gajendrakumar MP calls on all parties for a meeting
Thinakkural All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam stated that true justice requires investigating all genocidal acts against Tamils since 1948, not just the Chemmani mass grave. Addressing a media conference yesterday (13th) in Jaffna, Ponnambalam highlighted a contradiction by the ITAK, whose leader, C.V.K. Sivagnanam, co-signed a letter demanding an international criminal tribunal, but then wrote to the government endorsing a domestic investigation into Chemmani with international monitoring. Ponnambalam announced that he is calling for an urgent meeting of all Tamil nationalist parties and civil society organisations to prevent such mistakes and ensure a unified stance on demanding a full international investigation. |
“The court to decide on the carbon tests on the Chemmani mass grave” – Executive Director of the OMP J. Thatparan
Thinakaran, Thinakkural Executive Director of the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) J. Thaparan stated that the judiciary must decide whether to conduct carbon dating on the skeletal remains found at the Chemmani mass grave. He added that Sri Lanka lacks the required technology, which would necessitate sending samples to the US or Australia, and also faces a shortage of experienced personnel to carry out the OMP’s work. This statement comes as a senior official from the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the ministry will release a special report on the matter, and the lead archaeologist, Prof. Raj Somadeva, is expected to submit his findings by July 15. |
“33 hospitals in the North without a single nurse”– Nalinda Jayatissa
Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Minister of Health and Mass Media Nalinda Jayatissa stated that there are 33 local hospitals in the Northern Province operating without a single nurse. Speaking at the inauguration of the new outpatient department building at the Nainativu Hospital, Jayatissa assured that this shortage will be rectified through the appointment of new nurses in the future.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: AsianMirror
Kehelbaddara Padme flees Malaysia
Aruna, Ada
Two high-level police teams are scheduled to return to Sri Lanka today (14th) after an unsuccessful mission to Malaysia and Thailand concerning the reported arrest of underworld leaders Kehelbaddara Padme and Commando Salintha. The teams, which included officers from the CID, were dispatched following reports that the two were arrested in Malaysia. According to police sources, the suspects were apprehended on July 9 while attempting to travel to Thailand by boat. However, the suspects reportedly escaped from Malaysian custody through an “illicit process” before the Sri Lankan officials could intervene, forcing the teams to return.
14 economic centres to be given to a private company; the All Ceylon Dedicated Economic Centres Collective and Manning Trade Association warns that a protest will be launched if the decision is not reversed
Aruna, Ada The All Ceylon Dedicated Economic Centres Collective and Manning Trade Association claimed that the government is preparing to hand over 14 of the island’s 18 economic centres to a private company. The association has warned the government that it will close all economic centres and launch protests if the decision is not immediately withdrawn. At a briefing held in Dambulla yesterday (13th), the association’s representatives alleged that the minister of trade has submitted a cabinet paper to lease the centres to a private company that is not yet properly registered, and that this was done without any prior notification. |
Verité Research introduces a new tracker to measure election promises
Divaina, Mawbima According to Verité Research, only one out of 22 prominent promises from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s 2024 election manifesto has been fulfilled. The finding comes from the “Anura Meter”, an online platform run by Manthri.lk, which tracks pledges across sectors such as economic reforms, governance, anti-corruption, law and order, and social security. The single fulfilled promise is the amendment of the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax. The tracker indicates that seven promises (35%) have been partially fulfilled, three (14%) have been initiated, and there is no updated information on the status of the remaining 10 promises (45%). Promises listed as partially fulfilled include providing monthly allowances to low-income families and senior citizens and abolishing state minister positions. Promises listed as initiated include the abolition of laws such as the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the amendment of the Online Safety Act (OSA). |
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
The Central Bank launches an awareness week on pyramid schemes today; 100 complaints received on pyramid schemes; 22 organisations banned – The CBSL
Divaina, Dinamina, Ada, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has launched a national awareness week against prohibited pyramid schemes, which will run from July 14 to 18 under the theme, “Pyramid is a trap – don’t get into the wrong track”. This initiative aims to maintain financial system stability and protect consumers by raising awareness of the significant risks posed by such schemes to individuals and the economy. The campaign will educate participants on the fraudulent nature of these schemes, the legal provisions against them, the financial repercussions of investing, and the experiences of past victims. The awareness programmes will be conducted across 6,172 schools and 14,022 Grama Niladhari divisions, targeting students, teachers, public sector employees and members of the armed forces and police.
Mother of Ishara Sewwandi dies in prison
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
The mother of Ishara Sewwandi, the fugitive wanted in connection with the murder of underworld figure Sanjeewa Kumara Samararatne, also known as Ganemulle Sanjeewa, has reportedly died of a heart attack on July 11 while in custody at the Welikada Prison. Both Ishara Sewwandi’s mother and brother had been arrested for allegedly aiding and abetting the murder and were remanded by the court.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. “President Anura Kumara is subservient to India; we must oppose the plans to provide people’s personal data [to an Indian company]” – Wimal Weerawansa – Thamilan, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Mawbima
2. 21 motorcycles worth Rs. 250 million found in a warehouse at the Hambantota bird park; the park manager and the warehouse keeper remanded – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Dinamina, Thinakaran
3. “Similar to how the tariffs were reduced, will continue negotiations with the US to obtain further relief” – The president states while meeting representatives of the export sector – Divaina, Dinamina, Ada, Mawbima, Thinakkural
4. Eric Meyer nominated as the new US ambassador to Sri Lanka – Divaina, Dinamina, Thamilan
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