DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: Proposal for domestic judicial mechanism removed; amendments in the draft of co-sponsoring countries; term ‘ethnic issue’ replaced with ‘conflicts’; exemption granted for oral reports at the 61st and 64th sessions | President Anura meets with UN High Commissioner [for Human Rights]; discussion held on the progress achieved by Sri Lanka Thinakaran: Plan to strengthen Sri Lanka–US trade relations; President holds discussions with President Donald Trump’s Special Representative for South and Central Asia | President’s meeting with Volker Türk |
Thinakkural: President orders continuation of wind power projects; massive protest erupts across Mannar District; “We will not give up our land and resources,” says President of the Citizens’ Committee Rev. Fr. S. Marcus | “President’s announcement [on Mannar windmill project] cannot be accepted; people are ready to make sacrifices” – says MP Selvam Adaikkalanathan | “India must help stop land grabbing” – MP Ravikaran emphasises to the Indian High Commissioner Thamilan: Mujibur Rahman MP urges appointment of a selection committee over irregularities in appointment of judges | “Investigation necessary into financial accounts of the Speaker and Wasantha [Samarasinghe]; holding dollars in cryptocurrency and Binance accounts is a crime” – criticises MP Dayasiri |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: ICU at Apeksha Hospital closed after doctor’s retirement; island-wide insulin shortage reported Divaina: Children cannot be treated cruelly; new laws to come Mawbima: “We will not let money laundering happen through cryptocurrencies; regulations soon“ – CBSL governor | Rs. 15 crore of undeclared assets: dates decided for court case of Mervyn; to be heard from November 17 |
Dinamina: Revenue expectations from vehicle imports exceeded; USD 1,570 million worth of LCs opened Aruna: Committee to combat use of cryptocurrencies in money laundering; Central Bank requests government action Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Tamil Guardian
“President’s announcement [on Mannar windmill project] cannot be accepted; people are ready to make sacrifices” – says MP Selvam Adaikkalanathan
Thinakkural, Thamilan, Virakesari
Speaking in parliament yesterday (24th), Democratic Tamil National Alliance MP Selvam Adaikkalanathan stated that the president’s decision to proceed with the Mannar wind power project, ignoring the public’s demands, is unacceptable.
He highlighted the ongoing protests in Mannar and Colombo, questioning whether the people’s right to life is being denied.
Adaikkalanathan warned that the struggle will continue and intensify, urging the president to immediately halt the project.
He cautioned that if the non-violent protests are disregarded, the people are prepared to make sacrifices to stop the project.
President orders continuation of wind power projects; massive protest erupts across Mannar District; “We will not give up our land and resources,” says President of the Citizens’ Committee Rev. Fr. S. Marcus
Thinakkural Rev. Fr. S. Marcus, president of the Mannar Citizens’ Committee, has warned that a large-scale, district-wide protest will be launched in the coming days against the Mannar wind turbine projects. This announcement follows the president’s decision to allow the construction of 13 wind turbine towers to proceed, despite an ongoing protest that has lasted for 30 days. Rev. Fr. Marcus stated that the president’s decision was arbitrary and ignored the public’s concerns, causing great distress to the people. He affirmed that the struggle to protect their land and resources will continue until their three demands are met and criticised the Mannar District Secretariat for its lack of transparency regarding the president’s directive. |
Proposal for domestic judicial mechanism removed; amendments in the draft of co-sponsoring countries; term ‘ethnic issue’ replaced with ‘conflicts’; exemption granted for oral reports at the 61st and 64th sessionsVirakesari
ISignificant amendments have been made to the revised draft of the new resolution on Sri Lanka, which was tabled by the UK-led Core Group at the 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). A key clause encouraging the government to consider establishing a special judicial mechanism with the participation of an independent special counsel to investigate past human rights violations has been completely removed. Furthermore, the term “ethnic conflict” has been replaced with “conflict,” and the word “militarisation” has been omitted from the section discussing the root causes of the economic crisis. The revised draft also softens the language regarding the disproportionate impact of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) on the Tamil and Muslim communities and tones down the call for an effective accountability process for violations committed by all parties. |
Establish an international criminal justice mechanism; emphasised in the letter of Tamil national parties to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Virakesari
A coalition of Tamil political parties has sent a letter to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, urging his office to prioritise establishing an international criminal justice mechanism to investigate alleged genocide and war crimes in Sri Lanka.
The letter, supported by a public signature campaign and handed over to the UN Resident Coordinator in Colombo on Tuesday, expresses a lack of faith in the Sri Lankan government to conduct an impartial excavation of the Chemmani mass grave.
Consequently, the parties demand that the international community’s monitoring and technical assistance be included in the excavation process.
The letter further insists that the upcoming resolution at the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council should not include any recommendation that gives Sri Lanka the opportunity or time to establish a domestic investigation mechanism.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
Committee to combat use of cryptocurrencies in money laundering; Central Bank requests government action
Aruna, Mawbima, Divaina
CBSL Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said Sri Lanka currently has no law regulating cryptocurrencies.
Speaking at a media briefing yesterday (24th), he noted that crypto transactions are risky and that he cannot guarantee deposited funds have not been routed through the banking system.
The Governor added that CBSL has proposed to the government the formation of a committee to develop a mechanism to prevent the use of cryptocurrencies for money laundering.
Rs. 15 crore of undeclared assets: dates decided for court case of Mervyn
Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Divaina The Colombo High Court has fixed November 17 for the trial of former minister Mervyn Silva in a corruption case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). The case alleges that Silva unlawfully acquired assets worth around Rs. 150 million during his tenure between 2010 and 2012. |
“Be cautious with your words” – Kariyawasam to KuttiarachchiLankadeepa, ArunaSLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam has strongly warned former MP Tissa Kuttiarachchi against making irresponsible statements at public meetings. The warning follows Kuttiarachchi’s recent claim at a gathering in Anuradhapura that he would act as Sri Lanka’s unofficial President if Namal Rajapaksa is elected Head of State. Senior party officials have also cautioned him not to make remarks that could harm the party. |
Manamperi remanded till November 26
Dinamina, Divaina
Sampath Manamperi was remanded until November 26 over allegations of hiding two containers of ‘ice’ and talc on his Middeniya property.
He was detained for seven days and produced in court by Police Narcotics Bureau officers.
Divaina reported that the former Pradeshiya Sabha member, accused of involvement in organised ‘ice’ trafficking, has been handed over to the Peliyagoda Crime Division for further investigations.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Sri Lanka Mirror
President meets UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Divaina, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, attending the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, met UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at the Human Rights Council Auditorium on Tuesday (23rd).
According to the President’s Media Division, Sri Lanka’s human rights progress over the past was discussed.
Electricity strike suspended
Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Aruna, Divaina, Thinakaran
Several trade unions of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) have temporarily suspended the strike scheduled for today (25th) against the government’s plan to split the CEB into four entities.
The unions, which began a work-to-rule campaign on September 4 over multiple demands, said the strike was paused following an agreement to hold talks with authorities.
The work-to-rule action will continue until further notice.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Bill aimed at preventing a child’s emotional suffering from teacher punishments in school – Paulraj – Dinamina, Divaina, Thinakkural, Thamilan
2. “If we (decide to) arrest Gammanpila, we will inform beforehand” – CID to the court – Mawbima, Divaina, Virakesari, Thamilan
3. “Will the executive presidency be abolished?” – Premadasa – Dinamina, Divaina, Virakesari
4. “Reveal to Parliament how some government ministers obtained USDT in cryptocurrency and Binance accounts” – Jayasekara – Lankadeepa, Aruna, Thamilan
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