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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: “Somaratne Rajapakse’s testimony must be obtained; immediate action is necessary to uncover all the facts through an international investigation” – Representatives of Tamil national parties insist | “We feel like we have won a lottery” – Relatives of the disappeared in response to Somaratne Rajapakse’s comments Thinakaran: Cases to be filed against those who fail to submit their declarations of assets and liabilities; the CIABOC announces | Photograph: The president attends the opening of the City of Dreams Sri Lanka Hotel |
Thinakkural: “There are many people including Somaratne Rajapakse; we will meet the witnesses soon! We will ask for their opinions and provide the details to the court” – Executive Director of the OMP Thatparan | 130 skeletons identified | “Provide any artifacts of evidence if you have them; public support is essential” – Thatparan Thamilan: “Somaratne [Rajapakse] is ready for an international investigation; Anura must accept the request and prove himself!” – MP Mano Ganesan MP insists | Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya prays at the Nallur Temple |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: A series of promises made to reduce Trump’s taxes? Agreements to purchase USD 500 million worth of crude oil and USD 300 million worth of gas | Protest against Minister Samantha at the youth conference Divaina: Do not commit this crime: Attempts to politicise youth club conferences; unrest erupts while establishing Youth Club Federations in Gampaha, Badulla, Galle, Anuradhapura and Kalutara Ada: “Cases to be filed if asset declarations are not submitted before August 31: A fine to be imposed on the delayed submission of declarations” – The CIABOC |
Mawbima: “Cases to be filed against officials who do not submit asset declarations before August 31” – The CIABOC | Youth protest against Samantha, who attended the Badulla youth conference, and Eranga, who attended the Gampaha youth conference Dinamina: “Legal action against officials who fail to declare assets and liabilities: Fines for delays” – The CIABOC | Senior official of a private bank arrested over Rs. 150 million loan fraud: Forged documents created claiming a company had taken loans Aruna: Former MPs go to Geneva against pension cuts Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: The Island.lk
“Somaratne [Rajapakse] is ready for an international investigation; Anura must accept the request and prove himself!” – Mano Ganesan insists
Thamilan, Virakesari
Tamil Progressive Alliance Leader Mano Ganesan has revealed that Lance Corporal Somaratne Rajapakse, a soldier convicted in the Krishanthi Kumaraswamy murder case, is prepared to identify senior officers responsible for hundreds of killings at Chemmani. Ganesan added that Rajapakse made the offer via a letter sent by his wife to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, stating that he and others were ordered by superiors to bury 250-300 people who were tortured and killed. Ganesan has urged the government to agree to an internationally monitored investigation and to provide immediate high-level security to Rajapakse in prison.
“Record statement from Somaratne” – Tamil nationalist party representatives insist
Virakesari Following the offer by Somaratne Rajapakse to testify about the Chemmani killings, representatives of Tamil political parties have described the development as a very important turning point and unanimously called for an international investigation to uncover the truth. ITAK MP S. Shritharan noted the significance of the call for an international probe now coming from a convicted Sinhala soldier, arguing it validates the Tamil community’s long-standing demand for such a mechanism. EPRLF leader Suresh Premachandran recalled that allegations regarding hundreds of burials were made during the original trial but were not pursued, while PLOTE Leader Dharmalingam Sithadthan urged President Dissanayake to take appropriate action on the new offer. Sithadthan also called on the international community to pay attention to this development ahead of the upcoming 60th UNHRC session in September and to ensure a fair international investigation is conducted. |
“Investigating Somaratne will cause problems; we await the president’s action; he was sentenced only after a proper investigation” – Sarath Weerasekara
Virakesari Former Minister Sarath Weerasekara has stated that appointing a presidential commission to investigate the claims made by death-row convict Somaratne Rajapakse would create complications, as the Supreme Court has already sentenced him for the murder of Krishanthi Kumaraswamy. Commenting on the letter sent by Rajapakse’s wife to the president, Weerasekara described the offer to testify internationally as a tactic to take Sri Lanka’s internal affairs to a global stage, timed to coincide with an upcoming UNHRC session. He argued that domestic justice mechanisms should be exhausted before any international involvement is considered. Weerasekara concluded by stating that he is awaiting President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s decision on how the government plans to proceed with the matter. |
“They tried to stop the UN high commissioner at the entrance to Chemmani; there is evidence that the military carried out the Chemmani massacres” – Senior advocate Ratnavel
Thinakkural
Senior lawyer K.S. Ratnavel has alleged that there were attempts to prevent UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk from entering the Chemmani mass grave site during his recent visit to Jaffna. Speaking at a book launch in Colombo, Ratnavel claimed that bureaucratic hurdles were created despite initial approval from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, and a police officer later argued in court that the high commissioner should only be allowed to stand outside the crematorium gate. Ratnavel stated that it was only after lawyers made a direct application to the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court, arguing that blocking the visit would insult a key diplomat, that the magistrate granted permission for access. Ratnavel used this incident to accuse the current government of hypocrisy, stating its actions are no different from previous governments in obstructing justice for alleged war crimes committed at Chemmani.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Hiru News
Do not commit this crime: Attempts to politicise youth club conferences; unrest erupts while establishing Youth Club Federations in Gampaha, Badulla, Galle, Anuradhapura and Kalutara
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna
Youth in several districts have protested strongly against newly elected officials of the Youth Club Federations and the ministers who attended the events, with several such incidents reported yesterday (3rd). In Gampaha, the district’s Youth Club Federation meeting was held at a hotel under the patronage of Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara. During the event, a young woman protested against the deputy minister’s speech. A similar situation erupted at a hotel in Badulla, where the district’s Youth Club Federation was held under the leadership of Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Samantha Vidyarathna. A group of young people strongly protested against the newly appointed officials, which led to the minister leaving the premises. Another similar incident was reported from the Matale District Youth Club Federation meeting as a protest erupted against the new office bearers. After the protestors left, the district federation’s meeting commenced with the participation of Deputy Minister Gamagedara Dissanayake and others.
Buddhist affairs commissioner removed from his post: The bill, a cabinet proposal
Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Aruna A move reportedly sanctioned by a recent cabinet proposal has dismissed Premasiri Rathnayake as commissioner general of Buddhist affairs. According to Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Gamagedara Dissanayake, the dismissal stems from Rathnayake’s inability to effectively carry out his assigned responsibilities. Rathnayake had assumed the post in January 2024, and had subsequently faced growing criticism over the past several months, with various allegations surfacing regarding his conduct and administrative approach. As part of the transitional process, Kasun Wellahewa has been named acting commissioner with immediate effect. |
“Happy that the US reduced the taxes” – Harsha de Silva
Dinamina SJB MP Harsha de Silva stated that the decision made by the US to reduce the tariff rate imposed on Sri Lankan goods to 20% is a significant achievement and expressed his heartfelt satisfaction regarding the matter. He further noted that this would enable Sri Lanka to maintain its export competitiveness in the region. In a statement, he expressed gratitude to all those, both in the foreground and background, who worked with dedication to make the reduction possible, as well as to the US for granting this concession with an understanding of the challenges faced by a small country like Sri Lanka. |
The district judge of Moratuwa, Thilina Gamage, suspended
Lankadeepa, Divaina
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has suspended the judicial duties of Thilina Gamage, who served as both magistrate and district judge in Moratuwa. The suspension follows an ongoing inquiry by the JSC into allegations of misconduct levelled against Gamage. In a written notice issued yesterday (3rd), the commission has directed Gamage to provide his explanation within 21 days. The investigation focuses mainly on Gamage’s alleged involvement in unlawful activities connected to elephant trafficking. A formal charge sheet was filed against him by the JSC in June.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: The Island
“Cases to be filed if asset declarations are not submitted before August 31: A fine to be imposed on the delayed submission of asset declarations” – The CIABOC
Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) announced that legal action will be taken against all executive grade state officials who fail to submit the declarations of their assets and liabilities by August 31. Issuing a statement, the CIABOC noted that officials who were required to submit their declarations of assets and liabilities by March 31 should have submitted these declarations to the respective heads of their institutions by June 30, in order for them to be forwarded to the CIABOC.
Additionally, the CIABOC announced that a fine will be imposed in accordance with the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023 for late declarations submitted between June 30 and August 31, 2025.
Ranil Wickrememsinghe and Maithripala Sirisena to unite against the curbing of privileges
Lankadeepa, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Former Presidents Ranil Wickremesinghe and Maithripala Sirisena have discussed the possibility of challenging the bill abolishing presidential privileges in the Supreme Court. The bill, announced by the Ministry of Justice and National Integration on August 1, is set to repeal the Presidents’ Entitlements Act No. 4 of 1986. Under this act, all former presidents were eligible for official residences, secretarial allowances, official transport facilities and other facilities, and the new bill is set to abolish all such facilities. If the bill is passed, all five former heads of state will lose all privileges except their monthly pension of Rs. 97,500 per month. The legal team set to represent the two former presidents is reportedly already analysing the privileges enjoyed by former heads of state in other countries of the region, including India, Pakistan, Maldives, Bhutan and Nepal for this purpose.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. 76 shootings in 2025: 41 dead; 43 injured | Shootings in Hungama and Kapugama; one youth reported dead – Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Virakesari
2. Tourists to receive driver’s licences valid in Sri Lanka within five minutes – Divaina, Ada, Thamilan
3. The debate to dismiss Deshabandu to be held tomorrow (5th) – Lankadeepa, Dinamina, Virakesari
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