DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: 625 kg of drugs seized in Tangalle; three mysterious deaths recorded; six weapons, including a T-56 rifle, also recovered | “Inform if you have any information about drugs” – Minister Ananda Wijepala | All electricity supply services declared as essential services; a special gazette notification issued by the president Thinakaran: Around 634 kg of drugs seized in Tangalle; six modern firearms also confiscated; a shocking discovery during the inspection of suspected lorries | All electricity supply services declared as essential services; a special gazette notification issued by the president | “Even after one year in power, the country has not progressed!” – Former President Mahinda voices concern |
Thinakkural: “Three drug-laden lorries seized in Tangalle; 380 kg of ice and 245 kg of heroin recovered; five modern handguns and a T-56 rifle also captured; several southern politicians likely to be caught; Minister Ananda Wijepala issues warning | Anura and the ministers are providing false information regarding asset values! Udaya Gammanpila says if proven, it is a punishable offence that could lead to imprisonment Thamilan: The CEB strike: The protest intensifies! Supply operations at risk of coming to a standstill; the electricity sector declared an essential service; an extraordinary gazette published |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: The “ice kingdom” of Tangalle revealed due to the mysterious deaths of three individuals: 600 kg of ice found in three lorries; five firearms, including a T-56, found Divaina: The drugs of the South found in three lorries! Ice and heroin worth Rs. 6.5 billion belonging to Unakuruwe Shantha seized in Tangalle; sent from Afghanistan via sea; five firearms, including a T-56, and drugs worth Rs. 1.8 billion found in a lorry transporting watermelons; the weapons had been received as a bonus for getting the drugs; three individuals who came to get the ice poisoned and killed by the gang? | The police locate weapons buried by Manamperi in Middeniya, that had been brought in for an attack involving Backhoe Saman Mawbima: 635 kg of ice and heroin found in the South with three mysterious deaths in Tangalle: Investigations into the deaths of the three individuals to be conducted today; five firearms and a T-56 also among the items found |
Dinamina: 635 kg of ice and heroin together with six firearms seized in Tangalle; weapons unearthed from Manamperi’s garden: A pistol, a hand grenade and 115 rounds of ammunition; it was Manamperi who had distributed firearms to Backhoe Saman’s crew Aruna: Electricity turned into an essential service: A gazette issued by presidential order Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
“Anura and the ministers are providing false information regarding asset values!” – Udaya Gammanpila says if proven, it is a punishable offence that could lead to imprisonment
Thinakkural, Virakesari
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader Udaya Gammanpila claimed that the president, ministers and deputy ministers could face imprisonment in the future for including false information or concealing facts in their assets and liabilities declarations.
Gammanpila stated that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s travel expenses for his June 2024 visit to Britain were not included in his declaration. He further noted that the expenses for a 2024 trip to India and Canada, which Dissanayake undertook as the leader of the JVP, were also not revealed. Gammanpila referred to Section 8(2) of the Anti-Corruption Act, which mandates the disclosure of gifts or benefits received, and claimed that the president failed to do so.
“Accountability is essential for lasting peace” – Marc-André Franche
Thamilan Speaking ahead of the International Day of Peace, UN Resident Coordinator for Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche stated that lasting peace in the country is more than just the absence of conflict. He added that it must include equal access to public services for marginalised communities and those most affected by conflict. According to the UN resident coordinator, this requires resolving longstanding land disputes, ensuring justice and accountability, and strengthening transparency, equality, and good governance. |
“The government has an attitude of thinking it cannot be shaken; a permanent solution required for development officers” – MP Shanakyan requestsThamilan
ITAK MP R. Shanakiyan recently commented on the ongoing protest by development officers, who have been demonstrating in front of the Fort Railway Station for 13 days. He stated that the NPP government is arrogant and believes it cannot be shaken. The MP urged the government to consider the events that occurred in Nepal and the Philippines. He further noted that the public voted for the president and not other ministers, and therefore, the president must immediately intervene to provide a permanent and fair solution to the development officers, respecting their service. |
Confirmed as illegally constructed: The provincial secretary orders the demolition of the hotel owned by the former governor’s spouse!
Thinakaran
A hotel owned by Ajantha Rupasiri Herath, the spouse of former North Central Province Governor Maheepala Herath, was found to have been illegally constructed on protected land within the Perimiyankulama Tank reserve.
According to Divisional Secretary Sudarshana Dissanayake, the hotel and several other nearby buildings occupy a 60-perch plot of land, and their construction was carried out without proper documents or legal approval. As a result, authorities have ordered that the buildings be removed within one month as part of a government initiative to protect tank reserves in the Anuradhapura District.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: The Island
CEB employees submit letters to join the new companies
Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna
The process of transferring employees to the new, fully state-owned companies established under the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) reforms act has now begun.
A number of CEB employees have submitted letters to the Ministry of Power and Energy, expressing their willingness to join the new companies. According to the ministry, a portion of the CEB workforce has provided letters indicating their consent to be transferred to the newly formed entities. These letters were submitted to the chairperson of the Ceylon Electricity Board at the CEB headquarters yesterday (22nd).
Manamperi reveals the existence of a weapons storage in Middeniya
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina Sampath Manamperi, who is being held under a detention order by the Police Narcotics Bureau in connection with an ice trafficking ring, was interrogated for four hours the day before yesterday (21st). Based on information he revealed, a special police team successfully located a cache of weapons buried in a home garden in Middeniya. The discovery included a pistol, a hand grenade, two ammunition casings used for T-56 rifles and 115 T-56 rounds. |
Why have [more than] Rs. 30 million worth of taxes not been paid? The court orders Sajin Vass to provide an explanation; the court date given for December 16
Lankadeepa, Dinamina The Colombo additional magistrate has ordered former State Minister Sajin de Vass Gunawardena to provide a written submission to the court on December 16 regarding the non-payment of income taxes exceeding Rs. 36.9 million. The order was issued yesterday (22nd) when the case filed by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) was recalled. The former state minister is accused of failing to pay income taxes amounting to Rs. 36,975,959, owed to the government for several years from 2010 to 2013. The additional magistrate issued the order after considering the submissions made by attorney Dinesh Perera, who appeared on behalf of the commissioner general of the IRD . |
The president to visit Japan on September 27 on an official invitation
Divaina
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will undertake an official visit to Japan from September 27-30, 2025, on the invitation of the Government of Japan.
During his visit, the president will have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and he will hold a summit meeting with the Japanese prime minister on several issues of mutual interest.
The president will also be addressing a business forum attended by high-level representatives of key Japanese businesses and investors in Tokyo focused on emerging economic opportunities in Sri Lanka.
President Dissanayake will also attend “EXPO 2025 Osaka” as a guest of the Government of Japan on the occasion of Sri Lanka Day at the Expo 2025. The event aims to highlight Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage and economic potential before an international audience.
The president is also due to address members of the Sri Lankan expatriate community residing in Japan. He will be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath and senior government officials.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
The “ice kingdom” of Tangalle revealed due to the mysterious deaths of three individuals: 600 kg of ice found in three lorries; five firearms, including a T-56, found
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
The police successfully arrested six suspects along with 635 kg of ice and heroin and a stock of firearms in Tangalle yesterday (22nd).
The haul is considered the largest quantity of drugs ever found in one location on land in the country’s history. The drugs, which were found in a residential garden in Tangalle, included 390 kg of ice and 245 kg of heroin. The street value of the heroin is said to exceed Rs. 1 billion.
The drugs were secretly hidden in compartments within a lorry filled with watermelons and two other lorries. Investigations have revealed a connection between the lorry filled with watermelons and the mysterious deaths of three individuals inside a house in Seenimodara, Tangalle.
It is suspected that this haul of ice and firearms was sent to Sri Lanka from Afghanistan (Divaina) or Pakistan (Dinamina) via sea by Unakuruwe Shantha and Kalu Sagara. The police stated that the firearms included a T-56 rifle and five revolvers.
The unions stand firm: The CEB to launch a strike from day-after-tomorrow | Electricity made an essential service: An extraordinary gazette issued | “The power and electricity sector will not be sold” — The president
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
Leaders of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) trade unions have announced that a final decision will be made tomorrow (24th) on whether to intensify their ongoing work-to-rule campaign into a full-scale strike. The campaign, which began on September 5, is in protest against the injustice faced by employees due to the proposed division of the CEB into four separate companies.
Speaking to the media yesterday (22nd), General Secretary of the Free Workers’ Union Prabath Priyantha stated that the decision to be made on Wednesday (24th) is likely to be that a strike will be launched. He noted that the authorities have not yet provided a solution to the employees’ demands. The unions will continue their work-to-rule campaign until September 24.
Meanwhile, an extraordinary gazette notification has been issued by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, declaring all services connected to the supply of electricity as essential public services. However, speaking to the media yesterday, Prabath Priyantha added that the CEB employees cannot be intimidated through the gazette.
Mawbima, Aruna, Virakesari and Thamilan also featured President Anura Kumara Dissanayake as stating that the government has no intention of handing over or selling the electricity sector to private institutions. He made this statement yesterday (22nd) at the Presidential Secretariat during a progress review meeting on the new reforms in the power sector.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. “A political group from the South is involved in drugs and crimes” – Minister Ananda Wijepala – Lankadeepa, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakkural
2. Shasheendra Rajapaksa and Prasanna Ranatunga remanded again – Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran
3. Yoshitha Rajapaksa’s Rs. 73.5 million court case postponed to October 5 – Dinamina, Thinakaran
4. 600 pieces of gold that were confiscated by the army from the North, handed over to the CBSL – Mawbima, Thinakkural
5. President Dissanayake to address the UN tomorrow – Dinamina, Virakesari
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