DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: “Attempt to create unnecessary fear among the public; take action for uninterrupted medicine distribution” – Minister Nalinda Jayatissa | Four arrested for providing shelter to Sewwandi in Kilinochchi and Jaffna areas | Harin appointed as Deputy Secretary of the UNP to facilitate the formation of a coalition Thinakaran: Warning that Bay of Bengal depression may develop into a cyclone; Three dead, 8,346 people from 2,052 families affected |
Thinakkural: Heavy rainfall continues in many areas, prompting danger warnings for several districts! Landslide alerts issued for 11 districts; tri-forces on standby | 42 train services to the hill country canceled | “Leave with salary in the health sector is a huge pressure on the Ministry of Health” – Jayatissa Thamilan: Legalise massage parlours! Lanka Spa Owners’ Association files writ petition in the Court of Appeal | “It’s due to irregularities that there’s a shortage of medicines,” points out Ajith P. Perera |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Engineering Faculty 2015: selection is illegal; court halts the Golden Award of the UOP; the rights of the complainant have been violated; authorities ordered to create a transparent system | Four who supported Ishara Sewwandi, caught from the North: had plans of getting married in Europe; six others involved to be (located) and arrested Divaina: ‘Ananda’, who helped Ishara Sewwandi flee to India from Jaffna, caught; a friend of (J.K.) ‘Bhai’; [Sewwandi] has fled to India via boat with three men Mawbima: The police look into the NGO work of the drug dealer ‘Gampaha Baba’, who was caught in Nepal – Kelaniya Crimes Division informs the court | Subject areas of several ministries change: Department of Civil Security brought under the Ministry of Public Security; ‘Thriposha’ brought under the Ministry of Trade; geology and mines under the Ministry of Industry
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Dinamina: Underworld members flee to India by boat: Rs. 500,000 to Rs. 1 million taken to smuggle one person: operation led by two brothers Aruna: This newspaper was unavailable at the time of publishing FrontPage Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Sri Lanka Mirror
“It’s due to irregularities that there’s a shortage of medicines,” points out Ajith P. Perera
Virakesari, Thamilan
SJB MP Ajith P. Perera asserted in parliament on Tuesday that delays and irregularities in procurement are the primary causes of the medicine shortage.
Speaking during a debate on a gazette under the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Act, Perera stated that the Kalutara, Nagoda Teaching Hospital is short of 100 medicines, which directly affects people dependent on free healthcare.
He insisted that an electronic tendering system for medicine procurement must be introduced to resolve the crisis, and that the government should provide the necessary human and physical resources for it.
Perera also welcomed the minister’s assurance that the 1990 Suwa Seriya ambulance’s name, colour, and number would not be changed, but pointed out that Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe had suggested otherwise, urging the government to maintain a firm stance.
Passenger ferry service between Nagai and Kankesanthurai suspended in November due to seasonal weather changes
Thamilan Subham Shipping Company Managing Director Sundararajan stated that the Sivaganga passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai will be suspended throughout November. He attributed the suspension to adverse weather conditions, including rough seas and gales, expected with the onset of the Northeast monsoon. Based on 30 years of climate data, Sundararajan confirmed the service will resume as usual in December and January. He also noted that over 20,000 passengers have used the service in the past year, and a new ship from China is expected by the end of November to launch a new service. |
Prison capacity only 10,000 — over 30,000 inmates held – Minister Harshana Nanayakkara
Virakesari
Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara informed parliament that prisons nationwide are holding over 30,000 inmates, despite having a capacity for only 10,000. Responding to a question from NPP MP Sujeewa Dissanayake on Tuesday, the minister stated that the country’s 28 prisons currently hold 35,216 inmates. He acknowledged that this severe overcrowding has led to significant health and sanitation problems, noting issues at Wariyapola prison. To address this, measures are being taken to construct new buildings and relocate some courts. Nanayakkara added that as some prisons are near residential villages, discussions are underway with the Ministry of Public Security to establish police checkpoints to address security concerns. |
Legalise massage parlours! Lanka Spa Owners’ Association files writ petition in the Court of Appeal
Thamilan The Lanka Spa Owners’ Association filed a writ petition in the Court of Appeal yesterday (21st), seeking an order directing the Attorney General to expedite the drafting of a bill to legalise Ayurvedic massage (spa) treatment centres. The Inspector General of Police, the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, the Secretary to the Ministry of Health, and the Ayurveda Commissioner General were named as respondents. The association stated in its petition that its member establishments employ qualified Ayurvedic doctors and therapists. They argued that the suspension of license issuance for such centres since 2019 has resulted in repeated police interference and raids, preventing them from conducting their business freely. Acknowledging information that the government is already preparing to regulate such institutions, the petitioners urged the court to order the Attorney General to prepare the bill immediately and submit it to Parliament. |
Killing of Isaipriya; Fonseka reveals shocking information, says he is ready to expose itThinakaran
In a website interview, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka has identified those allegedly responsible for the death of Isaipriya during the final stages of the war. He stated that while he was Army Commander, 12,000 LTTE cadres surrendered, but he subsequently received two complaints of abductions and killings, including one regarding Isaipriya. Fonseka noted that the then-head of Military Intelligence, Hendavitharana, was implicated, and that soldiers had also reported that Jagath Jayasuriya, who was in charge of Vavuniya, was responsible for abductions and contradictory activities. Fonseka clarified that he was not the Army Commander when the Isaipriya incident occurred, stating that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed Jayasuriya as Army Commander against his advice, and insisted that all these incidents must be investigated. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Newswire
“The CEB will not be privatised in any way” – Minister Kumara Jayakody
Divaina, Mawbima
Minister of Power and Energy Kumara Jayakody ruled out the privatisation of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) in parliament yesterday (21st).
However, he stated that all employees will be placed under four companies, which are to be set up under the unbundling program.
He added that employees must inform the authorities whether they would like to be placed under the new companies before October 27 this year.
Subject areas of several ministries change
Mawbima, Dinamina President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has taken steps to revise the subjects, functions, departments, statutory bodies and state institutions of several ministries. Accordingly, the relevant gazette notification has been issued under the signature of Presidential Secretary Nandika Kumanayake. |
“Come to parliament in pink today” – Speaker tells MPs
Mawbima, Dinamina Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne, yesterday (21st), informed all MPs to attend parliament today (22nd) dressed in pink or with an element of pink to mark Global Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which falls in October. The Speaker also announced that the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus has made arrangements to distribute a lapel pin to the MPs today (22nd) to mark the occasion. He further stated that all MPs would be provided with the pin at the members’ entrance today (22nd). |
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Sri Lanka Mirror
Heavy rains continue: 8,346 affected in six districts due to adverse weather | Great depression in the Bay of Bengal: heavy rains in Tamil Nadu | Government to take steps to provide relief to the affected
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Dinamina reports that four people have died, while Lankadeepa and Divaina report that three individuals have died and over 8,346 individuals from 2,052 families in six districts have been affected due to the prevailing adverse weather conditions.
The bad weather has impacted the districts of Galle, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Monaragala, Kalutara, and Colombo.
The Meteorological Department of India states that the pressure depression that formed in the Bay of Bengal has now intensified into a deep pressure depression, causing heavier rains in Tamil Nadu.
Chief Government Whip and Minister of Health and Mass Media, Nalinda Jayatissa, stated in parliament yesterday (21st) that the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and all related institutions are working together to provide relief to the people affected by the adverse weather conditions.
A new position for Harin Fernando to revive the UNP
Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran
Former Minister Harin Fernando has been appointed as the new Deputy Secretary General of the UNP.
This appointment has been made with the aim of mobilising the UNP.
The responsibility of gathering all political parties in the country and connecting them to a common program has also been entrusted to Fernando.
The responsibility of organising the 1,000 public rallies planned by the UNP has also been entrusted to Fernando.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Four who supported Ishara Sewwandi, caught from the North: had plans of getting married in Europe; six others involved to be (located) and arrested – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Virakesari, Thinakaran
2. Opposition prepared to provide relief to those affected | “What emergency plan does the government have for disaster situations?” – Premadasa questions – Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran
3. “No changes will be made to Suwa Seriya” – Minister Nalinda Jayatissa – Divaina, Dinamina, Thinakaran
4. “36,178 vacancies for teachers in [national] schools” – PM Amarasuriya – iMawbima, Virakesari, Thamilan
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