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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: “Support an international judicial process” – Six French MPs urge their government Thinakaran: “Sri Lanka will soon become a country where no one will want to take bribes; the law will be applied equally to all” – President Anura addresses the Sri Lankan community in the Maldives | Increase the wage of plantation workers to Rs. 2,000 |
Thinakkural: Were Eastern University vice-chancellor and journalist Ekneligoda killed and buried? No ’remains’ found in intensive excavation at Hindu cemetery in Thambiluvil | Injustice to Tamils for 80 years; pointed out in French parliament | U.S. President Trump’s 30% tariff takes effect today | Chemmani mass grave; scans at the site on Sunday and Monday Thamilan: “Efficient service is essential to ensure confidence in the judiciary” – Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena points out at the swearing-in ceremony | Revoking Presidents’ Entitlements Act! Draft bill gazetted | National government soon! Secret talks begin |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: “Piumi Hansamali and Thambugala have evaded taxes worth Rs. 420 million” – IRD commissioner general tells the court | Letters of warning from the Speaker to the 25 MPs who have not handed in their asset statements; letters given to 100 former MPs as well; cases to be filed if statements are not handed in by September 1 | Photograph: First surrogate birth at a government hospital reported in Ragama Divaina: Yesterday’s shooting reported from Kosgoda: Businessperson’s son murdered in Kosgoda in his bed while asleep; the order had come from overseas | Bill snipping the wings of former presidents gazetted: no benefits from the day the bill is passed Ada: Rights of presidents curbed; the gazette curbing benefits given to former presidents and widows, transportation allowances, houses and pensions, arrives |
Mawbima: IRD files indictments before the HC against Piumi Hansamali and Aura Chair Thambugala for evading tax worth Rs. 480 million | Bill that curbs the rights of former presidents including pensions, official residences and offices, gazetted Dinamina: Bill to curb presidential privileges gazetted: no benefits and privileges for widows hereafter | “The law will be implemented regardless of rank; will build a corruption-free nation” – President says, addressing the Sri Lankan community in the Maldives Aruna: Murderer has demanded Rs. 150 million: Kosgoda youth killed for refusing to pay ransom; Father informed of son’s death via phone an hour before the incident Anidda: Investigations against three former navy commanders for detaining and causing the disappearance of individuals in underground prisons: Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, Admiral Somathilaka Dissanayake and Admiral Jayanath Colombage [to be investigated into] |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana Tamil
Were Eastern University vice-chancellor and journalist Eknaligoda killed and buried? No ‘remains’ found in intensive excavation at Hindu cemetery in Thambiluvil
Thamilan, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran
The CID began excavating a site at the Thambiluvil Hindu cemetery on Thursday (31st), based on suspicions that several high-profile disappeared persons were murdered and buried there. The investigation follows the arrest of former Eastern Provincial Council member K. Pushpakumar, also known as Iniyabharathi, and his associates, who are suspects in the abduction and murder of student Parthipan (2009), former Eastern University Vice-Chancellor Prof. S. Raveendranath (2006) and journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda (2010). The excavation was initiated after obtaining permission from the Akkaraipattu Magistrate’s Court, and one of the arrested suspects identified the specific location to be dug. The excavation, conducted in the presence of a magistrate, had not found any human remains at the time of reporting.
“Support an international judicial
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Exhumation of skeletons at Chemmani; scanning process to begin next week
Thamilan, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thinakaran Three more human skeletons were identified on Thursday (31st) during the 26th day of the second phase of excavations at the Chemmani mass grave site, bringing the total number of identified remains to 118. Of these, 105 skeletons have now been fully exhumed from the site. Ground scanning surveys of the area are scheduled to begin on August 3 and 4. According to lawyer Niranjan, the exhumed remains have been placed in the court’s custody, and this coming Sunday and Monday have been allocated for the scanning tests to identify remains at the site. Thinakaran quotes lawyer Ranitha Gnanarajah’s media update on the identification and exhumation of skeletons as of July 30. |
The matter of Tamil political prisoners to the attention of the president; relatives meet minister of justice
Virakesari, Thinakkural
Family members of Tamil political prisoners, accompanied by the Voice for the Voiceless organisation, met with Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara at the Ministry of Justice on Wednesday (30th). During the meeting, the families described the severe hardships faced due to the prolonged imprisonment of their relatives, some for 15 to 30 years, and collectively requested their
immediate release. The organisation urged a humanitarian solution, citing historical precedents such as the general amnesty for the JVP and the post-war release of 12,000 ex-LTTE cadres. Minister Nanayakkara promised to address the issue within the legal framework and – acknowledging that amnesty is a presidential power – assured the families he would bring the matter to the president’s attention.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Newsfirst
IRD to file indictments before the HC against Piumi Hansamali and Aura Chair Thambugala for evading tax
Lankadeepa, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina
The Department of Inland Revenue (IRD) yesterday (31st) informed Colombo Additional Magistrate Pasan Amarasena that measures will be taken to file indictments before the Colombo High Court against model and actress Piumi Hansamali and Aura Lanka Chairperson T.A.C.V. Thambugala for alleged tax evasion. Appearing on behalf of the commissioner general of the IRD, Senior State Counsel Dinesh Perera informed the court that investigation reports on both individuals have already been submitted to the Attorney General (AG) and that indictments are expected to be filed before the High Court (HC) in due course.
“Take necessary action against the deputy minister of defence; is an obstacle to investigations on the Easter Sunday attacks” – The Catholic Church requests
Dinamina The Catholic Church has requested the government including President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to remove Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara from the post of deputy minister of defence. The Catholic Church has made the request stating that Jayasekara is an obstacle to the investigations regarding the Easter Sunday terror attacks that took place in Sri Lanka in 2019. |
“I will not resign because the Catholic Church requested” – Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekera states
Anidda Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) states that he will not be resigning from his position as the deputy minister of defence although the Catholic Church has made requests to the government for his removal. He added further that the government has not responded to the requests of the Catholic Church. He affirmed that the investigations on the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks are being carried out independently and that he will not, in any way, influence the investigation. |
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Newswire
Bill to curb presidential privileges gazetted: no benefits and privileges for widows hereafter
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
A gazette notification was issued yesterday (31st) in accordance with the directive of the minister of justice and national integration regarding the bill to revoke the privileges of former presidents. This new bill, which repeals the Act No. 4 of 1986 relating to the privileges of former presidents, has been gazetted and is referred to as the Act to revoke the privileges of former presidents. According to Section 2 of the repealed Act, any residence provided to a former president or spouse of a former president, or any monthly allowance paid, has been annulled by this new bill.
“The law will be implemented regardless of rank; will build a corruption-free nation” – President says, addressing the Sri Lankan community in the Maldives
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakkural
Addressing the Sri Lankan community in the Maldives, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake affirmed that the rule of law is being enforced regardless of rank or status. He added that this is illustrated by the arrests of high‑level officials, including the Inspector General of Police (IGP), emphasising that no one is above the law. Dissanayake also pledged that the current government constitutes the first administration firmly committed to not misappropriating a single cent of public funds, and has halted political-level bribery, corruption and waste. The president stated further that the necessary legal framework, including the Public Property Act, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and property confiscation legislation have been enacted, and institutions like the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and investigative agencies have been enhanced to function effectively. As part of stabilising the country, economic and institutional reforms are being implemented to restore trust, rebuild the economy on a solid foundation and ensure transparency in state functions.The president made the statement on July 30 in the Maldives.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Businessperson’s son murdered in Kosgoda in his bed while asleep: the order had come from overseas – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Aruna, Virakesari
2. “Judicial system to be rapidly digitalised to expedite legal proceedings” – New Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena – Divaina, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thamilan
3. “20,000 children have stopped schooling last year” – PM Amarasuriya – Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari
4. 34 arrested on bribery charges within six months – Lankadeepa, Thinakaran
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