DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: Cabinet approval was granted for the President’s proposal to appoint a special expert committee to implement recommendations | Pictorial: The peace march aimed at world peace began yesterday at the Dambulla Vihara premises Thinakaran: The President has directed that compensation for houses partially damaged by Cyclone Ditwah be fully paid by the end of May | “A committee of experts to implement the recommendations regarding the Easter Sunday bombings [investigation] to be appointed” – Jayatissa | The Ministry of Finance will provide an explanation regarding the allegations of misappropriation of Treasury funds – Minister Nalinda Jayatissa |
Thinakkural: Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa alleges that a hacker siphoned off USD 2.5 million from funds Sri Lanka owed to a foreign entity. He questioned how this money was stolen from the Treasury, stating that the country’s financial security is at great risk | “Is the President afraid of the mastermind of the attack, fearing that the government will collapse?” – Human Rights activist Uthayakumar questions Thamilan: “Financial security is at great risk as USD 2.5 million is in the hands of a hacker” – Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa makes sensational allegation |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Hackers get hold of USD 2.5 million from the Treasury? — A letter to the Speaker from the Free Lawyers Organisation; team appointed to investigate; complaints lodged before the CID | “The criminals of the Easter Sunday attack will be brought before the law before its eighth commemoration” — Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Pieris Divaina: Hackers take hold of USD 2.5 million from the Treasury that was to be paid as foreign loans! | “The Ministry of Finance will issue a clarification regarding the controversial revelation made by Maithri Gunaratne” — Minister Nalinda Jayatissa
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Dinamina: CID investigation launched to determine if Treasury funds were diverted to hackers; suspicions as to whether the funds were diverted to Australia; a complaint from the Treasury | The ‘Ehipassiko’ Walk for Peace begins from Matale today Aruna: USD 2.5 million, which was to repay loans to Australia, reported missing; Ministry of Finance launches investigation Anidda: This paper is published only on Fridays |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
Financial security is at great risk as USD 2.5 million is in the hands of a hacker. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa made this sensational allegation
Thinakkural, Thamilan
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa claimed that USD 2.5 million from state funds went missing during the repayment of foreign debt instalments due to a lack of proper verification by the government.
Speaking to the media yesterday (22nd) after visiting the Katharagama Kanda Vihara, he alleged that a computer hacker acquired the funds by providing false information.
Premadasa asserted that this incident exposes the inability of the Ministry of Finance, the Treasury, and the Central Bank to manage the country’s financial processes effectively.
He called for a transparent and independent investigation into the matter, stating that the weakness of the financial system has now evolved into a national security concern.
“The government is considering requests for medicine price revisions” – Minister Nalinda Jayatissa states
Thamilan Cabinet Spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa stated that no final decision has been reached regarding a revision of medicine prices, despite requests from the Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry and other stakeholders. Addressing a media briefing yesterday (22nd), he noted that while fluctuations in the value of the US dollar and other market changes could impact costs, the government is currently evaluating these proposals. Minister Jayatissa emphasised that increasing prices based on recent hikes in fuel and electricity costs is currently unjustifiable, as local manufacturing is still utilising raw materials imported previously. |
[Defeated] Northern parties prefer an anti-Tamil government, Minister Bimal Rathnayake states in JaffnaThinakkural
Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake stated that the National People’s Power (NPP) is a party for all citizens and operates without racism. Speaking at the launch of the second phase of the Pungudutivu-Kurikadduwan jetty reconstruction yesterday (22nd), he noted that the project is scheduled for completion by October 26, 2027. The minister emphasised that developing Delft Island is a priority to support its 1,400 families and its potential in tourism and fishing, addressing long-standing transport issues. He further claimed that defeated parties in the North desire an anti-Tamil government in the South to sustain their politics, but asserted that the current administration acts only on policy-based principles. Additionally, he confirmed that a contract has been signed to establish a fuel station on the island to alleviate local shortages. |
The government is acting in an anti-Tamil manner; Joseph Stalin strongly condemns
Thinakkural
Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) Secretary Joseph Stalin condemned the government for blocking the release of five books authored by Tamil poet and novelist Deepachelvan.
Speaking at a press briefing in Colombo yesterday (22nd), Stalin noted that the books remain held by Sri Lanka Customs despite the government’s rhetoric on national reconciliation.
He argued that while the state organises events like Thai Pongal in Jaffna, it simultaneously suppresses literature reflecting the aspirations of the Tamil people.
Stalin highlighted that Deepachelvan is both a writer and a teacher, and he called on the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to intervene following a complaint filed in Jaffna.
Other activists, including Anidda editor K.W. Janaranjana and writer K. Amarasinghe, also participated in the briefing to demand the immediate release of the publications.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
USD 2.5 million, which was to repay loans to Australia, reported missing; Ministry of Finance launches investigation
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has commenced a wide-ranging investigation regarding the misplacement of USD 2.5 million paid [to Australia] by the General Treasury as a debt settlement by a computer hacker.
The Police Headquarters revealed that this investigation was initiated following a complaint received by the CID from the General Treasury.
As it appears that the hacker has hacked this money through an account in Australia, preliminary steps have even been initiated to take necessary measures to obtain the assistance of Australia for the investigations.
It has been observed that this sum of USD 2.5 million was stolen during the payment of a debt amounting to USD 22.9 million.
The Ministry of Finance stated that a special internal inquiry has also been launched to look into how this incident occurred and who is responsible for the issue.
Licence conditions violated: Minister Lal Kantha files complaint against private TV channelLankadeepa, Dinamina The complaint, directed to the Secretary of the Ministry of Mass Media, also requests that legal action be taken regarding this matter. The complaint states that the channel published a news item by distorting and misinterpreting facts based on the assets and liabilities declaration he had voluntarily disclosed, and that no clarification was sought from Lal Kantha before it was published. |
The Airbus deal: immediately apprehend Chamal’s son and the spouse of the former SriLankan Airlines chief – Court ordersDinamina Fort Magistrate Isuru Neththikumara ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), yesterday (22nd), to immediately arrest and produce in court Priyanka Niyomali Wijesinghe [sic], the spouse of former SriLankan Airlines executive officer Kapila Chandrasena, who has been named by the CID as the second suspect in the case relating to financial fraud that occurred during the purchase of Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines. Similarly, the court ordered the CID to arrest and produce in court on the next date the third suspect, Shamindra Rajapaksa, who is the son of former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa. The Magistrate, stating that the facts presented by Priyanka Niyomali Wijesinghe [sic], the spouse of Kapila Chandrasena, regarding threats to her life cannot be accepted, informed that appropriate orders regarding that matter would be issued after she is arrested according to the warrant. |
A committee to investigate into how houses were built during Sajith’s time: only 10,532 were built, despite the initially planned 64,407 houses
Dinamina
Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa stated that although it was planned to construct 64,407 houses under the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) during the 2015-2019 period, only 10,532 houses have been constructed.
Jayatissa made this statement during the weekly media briefing to announce cabinet decisions held yesterday (22nd) at the Department of Government Information.
He added that the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted for a proposal presented by the Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Susil Ranasinghe, to appoint an expert committee to study facts and submit recommendations related to analysing the current status of those projects, identifying low-income families with a genuine housing requirement, expeditiously completing projects that were halted midway to settle people in them, and preparing a formal mechanism to recover the loans granted, as it has been observed that various reasons have affected the minimum progress of said projects.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Newswire
“Complete issuing Rs. 500,000 in financial support for each homeowner whose house was partially damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, by the end of May” — President instructs officials
Divaina, Dinamina, Thinakaran, Thamilan
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has issued directives to officials to ensure that the Government-approved compensation of Rs. 500,000 for houses partially damaged by Cyclone Ditwah is paid to all beneficiaries before the end of May.
President Dissanayake issued instructions to officials during a progress review meeting held yesterday (22nd) at the Presidential Secretariat.
The meeting focused on compensation payments and the provision of new housing for residents whose homes were partially or fully damaged by Cyclone Ditwah.
The President’s Office states that extensive discussions were also held on relocating those still living in camps to temporary housing until permanent homes are provided.
“The Ministry of Finance will issue a clarification regarding the controversial revelation made by Maithri Gunaratne” — Minister Nalinda Jayatissa
Divaina, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the Ministry of Finance will issue a clarification regarding the alleged diversion of USD 2.5 million in Treasury funds.
Jayatissa added that he did not possess detailed information on the matter presently.
The minister made these comments during the weekly Cabinet media briefing held yesterday (22nd), during which journalists questioned him on the reported diversion of Treasury funds.
Jayatissa added that a letter had been sent to the Speaker by Chairperson of the Free Lawyers Organisation, President’s Council (PC) Maithri Gunaratne, urging a parliamentary probe into the incident.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Donald Trump extends the ceasefire once again – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari
2. Easter Sunday attack: committee to oversee the implementation of recommendations made in the Presidential Commission report – Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran
3. “Officials have filled their bank accounts with money behind the government’s back” | “The misappropriation of USD 2.5 million makes the President responsible for this as well” — MP Namal Rajapaksa – Aruna, Thinakkural
4. Commission investigating the procurement of coal commences work – Lankadeepa, Thinakaran
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