DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: Focus on a Special Judicial Mechanism – Emphasis in New Resolution by UK-led Core Group | Keheliya’s case [to be taken up] on the 15th Thinakaran: Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Act: Bill passed with majority of 150 votes | Rejection of the no-confidence motion against the deputy minister | “Kurukkalmadam massacre: Excavations to be carried out in October to deliver justice for Muslims” – Minister’s reply to Hizbullah’s question |
Thinakkural: No international mechanism in the new resolution on Sri Lanka to be adopted in Geneva; Core Group too stress proper implementation of domestic mechanism Thamilan: Former presidents will no longer have special privileges! | “Those who call Prabhakaran a terrorist, raise your hands” – Open challenge in Parliament by MP Archchuna | “The actions of former presidents are unacceptable; maintaining them is unjust” – Minister Harshana | Cabinet reshuffle soon: Anura takes surprise moves! |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Mahinda leaves Wijerama; welcome event held in Tangalle | Nepal under army control; curfew enforced; 7,500 prisoners escape from seven jails Divaina: Parliament passes bill to slash former presidents’ privileges with 150-vote majority, no amendments; 151 in favour, only Chamara opposes; Speaker endorses act the same day Mawbima: Mahinda and Chandrika are preparing to leave [their official residences], while Maithri has already left | Circular on admitting students to intermediate grades in schools presented |
Dinamina: Bill to curtail former presidents’ privileges passed with 150-vote majority; Archchuna supports while Chamara opposes; SJB, UNP and SLPP absent from chamber | Former Speaker purchased a house in Viyathpura, together with 28 other MPs and ministers Aruna: Bill to remove former presidents’ privileges passed; Mahinda departs Wijerama today; ambassadors visit to bid farewell; another group prepares to provide housing; Hema’s pension abolished; “We condemn such cruel actions in this land where Buddha was born,” says Wickremesinghe Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Sri Lanka Mirror
Focus on a Special Judicial Mechanism – Emphasis in New Resolution by UK-led Core Group
Thinakkural, Virakesari
A new draft resolution on Sri Lanka, prepared by the United Kingdom-led Core Group, has been submitted to the UN Human Rights Council.
The resolution calls for an extension of the mandate given to the UN Human Rights Commissioner’s Office through Resolution 51/1 and all other matters emphasised in that resolution.
It also urges the Sri Lankan government to consider establishing a dedicated judicial mechanism with the participation of an independent special prosecutor to investigate human rights violations over the past decades.
The draft further calls on the government to fulfil its commitments to the devolution of power, repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and release military-occupied land.
Completely reject domestic and hybrid mechanisms – Joint call by 69 Tamil diaspora organisations
Virakesari
Sixty-nine Tamil diaspora organisations from several countries, including the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia, have sent a joint letter to the member states of the UN Human Rights Council. The organisations warned that allowing the Sri Lankan government space for an internal accountability process is a dangerous move, given the long-term failure of such mechanisms. They called on UNHRC member states to completely reject internal and hybrid mechanisms for accountability. The letter also urged the UN to initiate an investigation into Sri Lanka at the International Court of Justice under the Genocide Convention. |
“Resettlement of Valikamam North people is being obstructed” – MP Shritharan | “Steps taken to hand over unreleased lands in Jaffna” – Anura KarunathilakaThinakkural, Thamilan
ITAK MP S. Shritharan questioned the government on why the resettlement of people from Valikamam North has been delayed for 15 years after the war, and asked for details on the amount of land still occupied by the military under the pretext of a High-Security Zone. Thamilan reports Minister of Urban Development, Construction, and Housing Anura Karunathilaka responded that the government’s policy is to resettle all displaced people in their original lands. He stated that out of 12,376 families displaced in Valikamam North in 2010, 1,395 families remain to be resettled. He added that out of 23,850 acres of land controlled by the armed forces in 2009, 2,583 acres are yet to be released. |
“Those who call Prabhakaran a terrorist, raise your hands” – Open challenge in Parliament by MP Archchuna
Thamilan, Thinakkural Addressing Parliament on Wednesday (10th), Jaffna District MP Ramanathan Archchuna publicly challenged any MP to raise their hand and call Prabhakaran a terrorist. The MP noted that no one in the chamber accepted his challenge. He went on to state that the people of the North had voted for the President because they considered him to be a “Sinhala Prabhakaran,” adding that he regards both Prabhakaran and Rohana Wijeweera as gods. He criticised the government for failing to find a political solution to the ethnic issue and declared that he would go to Geneva to speak about what happened to his people during the war. |
“Kurukkalmadam massacre: Excavations to be carried out in October to deliver justice for Muslims” – Minister’s reply to Hizbullah’s questionThinakaran
Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara stated in Parliament on Wednesday (10th) that the government would take appropriate action to bring justice to the Muslims killed by the LTTE in the village of Kurukkalmadam. Responding to a question from Sri Lanka Muslim Congress MP M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, the minister said the exhumation of the burial sites would begin in October in accordance with a court order. He added that the process would be transparent and conducted with the help of modern technology, with international assistance sought if required. The minister assured that the remains would be exhumed with dignity to enable a proper final rites ceremony for the victims. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
Circular on admitting students to intermediate grades in schools
Mawbima, Dinamina
The Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, yesterday (10), issued a circular outlining the admission of students to intermediate grades in schools, covering Grades 2 to 11, with the exception of Grades 5 and 6.
Farmers can buy fertiliser from a company of their choice
Dinamina Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure Samantha Vidyarathna stated in Parliament yesterday (10th) that the government has decided to provide fertiliser subsidies this year, allowing farmers to purchase fertiliser from a company of their choice. The Minister added that farmers will receive a QR code for this purpose and that the new system will be implemented from next month. |
Former Navy Commander Ulugetenne further remanded
Dinamina Former Sri Lanka Navy Commander, Admiral (Retired) Nishantha Ulugetenne, who was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the disappearance of a youth from Pothuhera during his tenure as Director of Naval Intelligence, has been further remanded. The Polgahawela Magistrate’s Court ordered yesterday (10th) that Ulugetenne remain in custody until 24 September. |
“The power of social media companies to destabilise governments cannot be underestimated” – Wickremesinghe
Divaina
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued a statement on the situation in Kathmandu, Nepal, condemning the violence against civilians and political figures, including attacks on ministers and the killing of the former Prime Minister’s wife.
He criticised the police for firing, noting that the situation could have been controlled without force, and warned that such actions have damaged Nepal’s reputation and violated women’s rights.
Wickremesinghe also highlighted the influence of American social media companies, including Google, Facebook, and YouTube, cautioning that their power to destabilise governments worldwide cannot be underestimated.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Sri Lanka Mirror
Parliament passes bill to slash former presidents’ privileges with 150-vote majority
Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Aruna, Divaina, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
The Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill was passed in Parliament yesterday (10th) by a majority of 150 votes.
The Second Reading vote saw 151 in favour and one against, with New Democratic Front MP Chamara Sampath Dasanayake opposing and Opposition MP Ramanathan Archchuna the only Opposition member to support it.
Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne subsequently confirmed that the Bill had passed with a 150-vote majority, after which it proceeded to the Third Reading or Committee Stage and was approved without amendments.
Speaker rejects NCM against Deputy Minister Jayasekara
Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Divaina, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne announced in Parliament yesterday (10th) that the Opposition’s No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against Deputy Defence Minister, Major General (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara is not in order and cannot be accepted in its current form.
Citing Articles 42, 43 and 44 of the Constitution, the Speaker emphasised that collective and individual ministerial responsibility rests with the Cabinet of Ministers, and that a Deputy Minister, while an MP, is not a Cabinet member and does not bear direct constitutional responsibility to Parliament in this context.
In August 2025, a group of 32 Opposition MPs, including the Opposition Leader, submitted NCMs against Deputy Defence Minister Jayasekara, raising serious concerns over his alleged involvement and potential conflict of interest in the investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Nepal at the hands of the army; curfew imposed – Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Divaina, Thamilan, Aruna
2. Mahinda leaves Wijerama; welcome event at Tangalle – Lankadeepa, Aruna, Mawbima, Thinakkural
3. Namal demands a billion from Watagala for defamation, “If he didn’t sue me, I would sue him” – Watagala – Mawbima, Thinakkural, Thamilan
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