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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: “There is evidence that families were killed” – Sumanthiran says the blue colour bag recovered from Chemmani was given to students by UNICEF | “A skeleton with a child in the mother’s chest; murders have happened in this way too” – Srineshan MP Thinakaran: “Chemmani mass grave; government ready for fair investigations” – Minister Chandrasekar states in parliament | “Torture in the North and East like in Batalanda; government must take action to ensure justice” – Srineshan MP |
Thinakkural: “Massive fraud through containers! President Anura can no longer escape; the government has not disclosed the report of the investigation committee even after two weeks since it was handed over to the President” – Mujibur Rahman | Will Minister Wasantha be arrested? Bribery and corruption complaint | “Is it compatible with America? Where is the joint statement made by the President?” – Gayantha Karunathilleka Thamilan: “They conspired to prevent UN High Commissioner’s visit to Chemmani” – Archchuna MP describes what happened during Volker’s visit | Make amendments to the Electricity Bill! Deputy Speaker announces the Supreme Court’s order to parliament | Another Income Tax case against Aloysius | Changes in key police posts; Wootler appointed as media spokesperson |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: The Electricity Amendment Bill is unconstitutional; needs two-thirds and a referendum to be passed – Deputy Speaker announces the SC verdict | Mujibur reveals sections of the presidential committee report: 37 red containers released without being scanned; two containers released even before the decision to release containers was made Divaina: “[We] took him claiming to give him a contract to build a house, then [we] strangled and killed Sampath with a cable and stole all of his gold and money” – Murderers of the businessman from Kurunegala confess Ada: Lakshman Yapa and BOI’s former chief, DG, served indictments over causing a loss of Rs. 1.7 million to the government: allegations that newspaper advertisements to mark former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second presidential term were published using BOI funds |
Mawbima: “Releasing 309 containers was wrong” – Opposition MP Rahman reveals the report of the committee appointed by the president | MRI machine at the National Hospital breaks down: get MRIs done externally – Hospital informs; the usual 60 scans a day reduced to 20 scans Dinamina: Lakshman Yapa indicted: Rs. 1.7 million of government funds misused to congratulate Mahinda Rajapaksa on his second term; advertisements published in 11 papers Aruna: The Kurunegala Millawa hotel owner was killed due to revenge: the hotel owner beat me with a belt because I was with the hotel staff – Manager under suspicion states Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
“There is evidence that families were killed” – Sumanthiran says the blue colour bag recovered from Chemmani was given to students by UNICEF
Virakesari, Thinakaran
Virakesari: General Secretary of the ITAK, M.A. Sumanthiran, claimed that although the relevant authorities have not yet officially announced that the blue bag found in the Chemmani mass grave was provided by UNICEF, everyone who lived at that time knows when and for what purpose the bags were provided by UNICEF.
He noted that there is a suspicion that the human remains found in Chemmani could be those of individuals who went missing in Jaffna between 1995 and 1996.
Sumanthiran also stated that he has requested international organisations, including the United Nations Human Rights Council, to provide the necessary financial and technical assistance for the investigations into these mass graves, and firmly stated that he will continue to exert pressure on the basis of the truth being revealed in this matter.
Thinakaran quotes Sumanthiran saying that mass graves are important matters in the processes of accountability, and such sites should be properly investigated to reveal truths.
“A skeleton with a child in the mother’s chest; murders have happened in this way too” – Srineshan MP
Virakesari, Thinakaran Addressing parliament yesterday (30th), ITAK MP Gnanamuththu Srineshan claimed that “tortures similar to those in Batalanda have also taken place in the camps in the North and East”, and that the current government should take appropriate action to ensure justice for these incidents. He added that when looking at the skeletons found at the Chemmani mass grave, you can see the skeletal remains of a child in a mother’s chest, adding that there have been many such “racist and fundamentalist killings in the past.” |
“They conspired to prevent the UN High Commissioner’s visit to Chemmani” – Archchuna MP describes what happened during Volker’s visit
Virakesari, Thamilan Addressing parliament yesterday (30th), Independent Group MP Ramanathan Archchuna stated that there was an attempt made to prevent UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk from visiting the Chemmani mass grave site, adding that he intervened and took the High Commissioner there, saying that 15,000 people are crying. He noted that the skeleton of a 6-year-old boy with a UNICEF bag has been recovered from the Chemmani mass grave. He highlighted that it should be understood that a “6-year-old boy and a 3-month-old baby were also buried there.” So far, 33 skeletal remains have been recovered from there. He pointed out that the military “abused and tortured the mother, and the 3-month-old baby and buried them three feet deep.” |
“Some attempt to divert the Chemmani mass grave (probe); action to be taken if AI images have been shared” – Attorney Ranitha Gnanarajah
Thinakkural Attorney Ranitha Gnanarajah has urged the public to refrain from sharing artificial intelligence (AI) images related to the Chemmani mass grave on social media and in the public domain, adding that if such images continue to be shared in the future, legal action will be taken on the grounds of obstructing forensic investigations and Contempt of Court in the pending case. |
“Chemmani mass grave; government ready for fair investigations” – Minister Chandrasekar states in parliament
Thinakaran Addressing parliament yesterday (30th), Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Ramalingam Chandrasekar asserted that the government is prepared for a fair investigation into the Chemmani mass grave. He added that those who opposed them when they [the minister and other NPP MPs] went to the Chemmani ‘Unextinguishable Flame’ protest have no connection with the Tamil people. He further added that the issue related to the Chemmani mass grave is very important and an emotional issue. That is why I went to visit the place, he noted. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
Fuel prices increased
Lankadeepa, Ada
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) announced a revision of fuel prices, effective from midnight yesterday (June 30).
Accordingly, the price of Petrol 92 Octane was increased by Rs. 12, making the price of one litre Rs. 305, while the price of Kerosene was increased by Rs. 7, making the price of one litre Rs. 185.
The price of Auto Diesel was also increased by Rs. 15, bringing the new price to Rs. 289 per litre.
However, the prices of Petrol 95 Octane and Super Diesel remain unchanged.
Power over Matugama, which was won by the NPP, secured by the SJB
Divaina, Mawbima SJB candidate Kasun Munasinghe was elected as the chairperson of the Matugama Pradeshiya Sabha at the election held during the council’s inaugural session yesterday (June 30). SJB council member Anagipura Samantha Rohana was elected as the vice chairperson of the council. While the NPP won the Matugama Pradeshiya Sabha in the 2025 Local Government Elections, the opposition group, inclusive of the SJB, collectively holds the majority of the seats. |
Case against Hemasiri [Fernando] and Pujith [Jayasundara] for not preventing the Easter Sunday attack to be taken up on July 28
Ada, Dinamina The Colombo Special Trial-at-Bar, yesterday (June 30), ordered that the criminal case filed against former IGP Pujith Jayasundara and former Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Hemasiri Fernando under charges of negligence of duty for failing to prevent the Easter Sunday bombings despite receiving adequate intelligence be taken up for hearing on July 28. |
“If what Mujibur presented is true, punishments will be in order” – Handunnetti
Ada
Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti stated that if the information and the report presented by SJB MP Mujibur Rahman regarding the irregularities in the release of containers from the port are true, appropriate measures will be taken to punish those responsible for the incident.
Handunnetti made the statement following the revelations made by MP Rahman in parliament yesterday (30th).
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
SC rules certain clauses of the Electricity Amendment Bill unconstitutional
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Dr. Rizvie Salih, yesterday (30th), announced the verdict of the Supreme Court (SC) on the Electricity Amendment Bill in parliament.
Accordingly, the verdict read that several clauses in the proposed legislation have been found to be inconsistent with the Constitution.
The verdict read further that the SC determined that several clauses would require approval by a special majority in parliament as well as a public referendum in order to be enacted in the current form.
The Deputy Speaker, however, clarified that the constitutional inconsistencies would not arise if the relevant clauses were amended in accordance with the SC’s recommendations outlined in its determination.
“37 containers have been released without being checked” – Mujibur Rahman
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Opposition MP Mujibur Rahman, speaking in parliament yesterday (30th), alleged that several irregularities had been identified in the report of the committee appointed by the president on the controversial release of 323 containers by Sri Lanka Customs earlier this year.
Referencing the investigation report, Rahman stated that the containers were released to ease congestion at Customs and port facilities.
However, he added that the report noted that the move represented a clear departure from established Customs policy.
Rahman stated further that the actual number of containers released on January 18, 2025, was 309 according to this report, although it was previously stated that 323 containers were released.
Additionally, the three-member committee appointed to oversee the process was only authorised to release red label containers, which require scanning and physical inspection under the Customs risk management policy.
However, the report indicates that 158 yellow label containers—requiring both scanning and sample testing—were also released.
Further, 37 out of 151 red containers were cleared without proper scanning.
Accordingly, the revelations made by Rahman have sparked further scrutiny over the handling of the container release and adherence to Customs protocols.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Lakshman Yapa and BOI’s former chief, DG, served indictments over causing a loss of Rs. 1.7 million to the government: allegations that newspaper advertisements to mark former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second presidential term were published using BOI funds – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
2. Arjun Aloysius, two others charged for VAT evasion – Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Thamilan
3. Nine police chiefs, including the media spokesperson, and five OICs given immediate transfers – Divaina, Dinamina, Thamilan
4. “This is the best opportunity to reform the election laws as the government has two-thirds (majority)” – Election Commissioner – Ada, Aruna, Thinakkural
5. “The Parate Law will be valid from today; entrepreneurs need a solution” – Premadasa– Mawbima, Dinamina, Thamilan
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