DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: A new constitution is essential for the country: Political parties, including the main opposition, reach consensus | Sajith clashes with Minister Bimal | An IMF delegation arrives in Sri Lanka today | A Parliamentary Select Committee on Provincial Council Elections: Madduma Bandara, Kariapper, Mano and Shanakiyan Included? Thinakaran: The IMF will continue to support Sri Lanka’s economic recovery, Kristalina Georgieva assures Prime Minister Harini | The T20 World Cup trophy display tour commences | The attorney general to the Free Lawyers organisation: Appeal to the judiciary if I erred | “Compensation for victims affected by violent mobs” – Minister Harshana Nanayakkara informs parliament |
Thinakkural: What are the aspirations of the Tamil people? A significant document being prepared, says Sumanthiran | “The ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ fund, for which assistance from the international community has been sought, is not legally valid” – MP Harsha de Silva | The Kivul Oya project to be implemented by the government in the Vavuniya District poses a threat to the Tamil people! An attempt to seize thousands of acres of land for Sinhala commercial settlements, alleges MP Sathyalingam Thamilan: CEB unions oppose the restructuring, prepare for trade union action | Judiciary defamation: Will not hesitate to take action, warns the Judicial Service Association | Overcrowding in prisons: A 10-member committee appointed to formulate a special mechanism | Education reforms: “A mechanism to be established for review” – The president announces |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: The bank account issue: Aswesuma benefits stalled for 130,000 individuals Divaina: “Protect the independence and integrity of the AG’s Department – The BASL urges the government Mawbima: The drug testing mobile bus arrives at the Bastian Mawatha bus stand: 10 bus drivers who were under the influence, found at Pettah; the Ampara-Colombo bus driver found under the influence of ice; the driver of the Welimada bus had been under the influence of ice and another drug; eight other drivers found to be under the influence of marijuana | AI has taken over 180,000 jobs in Sri Lanka
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Dinamina: “The Ambuluwawa project is suspicious: there is only one Chinese national in the project” – Minister of Environment Dammika Patabendi | “An academic mechanism to solve the problems in education reforms” – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake states during a meeting with university lecturers Aruna: No one can influence the AG – The Free Lawyers organisation; “I am independent” – The attorney general Anidda: This newspaper was unavailable at the time of publishing FrontPage |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Daily FT
Tamil political parties to draft a common document on the aspirations of the Tamil people
Virakesari, Thinakural
The ITAK and the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) resolved to draft a common document representing the aspirations of the Tamil people regarding a solution to the national ethnic issue.
Following a meeting in Jaffna on Tuesday (20th), ITAK General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran invited all Tamil nationalist parties to join this initiative to present a unified position to the government and the international community.
The parties further demanded that the government conduct provincial council elections immediately under the current system, highlighting that the government has not held the elections despite a prior promise to do so within one year.
Sumanthiran also called for the total repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and opposed the proposed replacement legislation, describing it as more regressive than the existing law.
The opposition nominates members for the provincial council election [parliament select] committee
Virakesari Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has nominated four MPs to represent the opposition in the 12-member special select committee of parliament tasked with recommending an electoral system for provincial council elections. The nominees include SJB MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara, SLMC MP Nizam Kariapper, Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) MP Mano Ganesan and ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam. The committee, comprising eight members from the ruling party and four from the opposition, was proposed by Chief Government Whip Nalinda Jayatissa to provide recommendations within three months. Despite the nominations, several Tamil nationalist parties have criticised the committee, claiming it is a strategic delay tactic by the government to avoid holding the overdue elections. |
Political parties reach consensus on the need for a new constitutionVirakesari Political parties, including the main opposition, reached a consensus on the necessity of a new constitution formulated with the participation of all ethnic communities. During a discussion organised by the One Text Initiative in Colombo, representatives from the SJB, UNP, ITAK and the SLFP urged the NPP government to ensure transparency and multi-party participation in the drafting process. ITAK General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran and All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam emphasised that the new document must incorporate the aspirations of minority groups to rectify the historical exclusions faced in previous constitutional efforts. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa warned against majoritarianism and suggested including advanced fundamental rights and economic frameworks, referencing the South African model. The participants further called for the government to disclose its current preparations and to consider previous public consultation reports and existing drafts. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: The Island
“An attempt to remove the section of the Constitution that protects Buddhism” – Ranil Wickremesinghe
Mawbima, Aruna
Mawbima reports that, while participating in a ceremony in Galle on Tuesday (20th), former President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that there are ongoing attempts to remove the constitutional provisions that safeguard Buddhism. According to Mawbima, Wickremesinghe further noted that these efforts are surfacing despite the historical precedent set by former President J.R. Jayewardene, who, as the opposition leader back then, successfully advocated for Buddhism’s special status by citing the protections established in the 1815 Kandyan Convention.
Aruna reports that Wickremesinghe stated at the same ceremony that members of all parties have a duty to join with the Maha Sangha (the order of the Buddhist monks) to protect Buddhism.
“The UNP and the SJB will join when both the leaders reach one stance” – Tissa AttanayakeDinamina SJB National Organiser Tissa Attanayake states that the Working Committee of the SJB has expressed its agreement to the proposal that the SJB and the UNP should work together in the future. Attanayake made the statement while participating in a press conference held at the SJB head office on Tuesday (20th). Attanayake added that the UNP and the SJB will join when both the leaders, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, reach one stance. |
The drug testing mobile bus arrives at the Bastian Mawatha bus stand: 10 bus drivers who were under the influence [of drugs], found at PettahMawbima, Dinamina The Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development states that 10 out of 59 drivers tested were confirmed to have used drugs during the launch of a mobile laboratory testing service yesterday (21st) at the Bastian Mawatha main bus stand complex in Colombo. The mobile laboratory service is aimed at apprehending bus drivers using narcotics, and can provide reports on four types of drugs within a period of two to three minutes. A senior official stated that measures are being taken to initiate legal action and cancel the driving licences of the drivers who were found to be under the influence of drugs. |
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Newswire
“Remove the AG!” – Protests in Aluthkade | Protect the independence and integrity of the AG’s Department – The BASL urges the government | A destructive attempt to influence the court: Strict measures to be taken against those responsible – The Judicial Service Association
Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thamilan
A protest was held yesterday (21st) in front of the Attorney General’s Department against the current attorney general (AG). The objective of the protest was to question the conduct of AG Parinda Ranasinghe and the interventions of the AG’s Department. A large number of lawyers, journalists, and civil activists participated in the protest.
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) released a statement stating that the association is deeply concerned about recent social media posts that target the AG. The BASL emphasised that these social media posts seek to unfairly interfere with the independence of the office of the AG. The BASL added that they strongly urge that the independence and integrity of the office of the AG be protected at all times to ensure the protection of the cherished principles of justice and freedom.
The Judicial Service Association (JSA) also voiced grave concerns over “baseless criticisms that jeopardise the autonomy of the court system and diminish public confidence”. Releasing an official statement, the association highlighted an escalation in calculated and harmful efforts to sway the judiciary, characterising these actions as a major threat to the rule of law. The JSA underscored its commitment to confronting any attempts to impede judicial impartiality, asserting that it will employ all required actions to safeguard the independence of the judiciary.
“An academic mechanism to solve problems in educational reforms” – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake states during a meeting with university lecturers
Divaina, Dinamina, Aruna, Thamilan
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the government is working to establish a mechanism with a proper legal framework, integrating all parties including university lecturers and experts, to resolve the issues that have arisen in implementing education reforms.
The university lecturers mentioned that their association, the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA), appreciates the decision taken by the government led by the president to resolve the issues arising in education reforms, and that they are ready to contribute to the efforts.
The president made these remarks during a discussion held with the FUTA yesterday (21st) at the Presidential Secretariat.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. “I am not above the law: if I have done something wrong, go to court” – AG Parinda Ranasinghe – Lankadeepa, Aruna, Thinakaran
2. “Will provide continuous support to Sri Lanka” – IMF representatives state before the prime minister – Dinamina, Thinakaran
3. “There is no fund called the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund’ now” – SJB MP Harsha de Silva– Mawbima, Thinakkural
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