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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: President to hold the all-party meeting today to discuss the impact of the U.S. tariff; all parties are invited | Photograph: Namal Rajapaksa meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India Thinakaran: New U.S. tariff; president chairs all-party meeting today | “Government serious about eradicating bribery and corruption; change in leadership of government institutions where bribery and corruption are found after May” – [President] | “Aswesuma allowance for low-income earners” – Presidential announcement |
Thinakkural: “A new law is coming to control [Donald] Trump regarding the U.S. tariff policy; Sri Lanka delegation should make use of it” – Sajith Premadasa | “’Zero’ tariff for U.S.; increase the VAT to 18%” – Ravi Karunanayake | “Previously we opposed India and now support” – [Tilvin Silva] Thamilan: “Get ready for change!” – President Anura Kumara announces strict enforcement of the law against corrupt officials | All-party meeting is to be convened today | “Excuses on missing persons issue; the international community cannot be fooled” – Harsha de Silva |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: A circular from the secretary of public administration: Salary increment for state employees uncertain today; [the paying of] arrears postponed to April 25; “The employees are not being treated unfairly in any way” – Minister Chandana Abeyrathne states | Divaina: Trump shoots taxes at China | We are not afraid of anyone; we will fight to the end – China responds | Sri Lanka imposed with the seventh highest tax on U.S.’ tariff list | “Trade Advisor Navarro is a moron” – Elon Musk Ada: Orders to exhume the body of the youth that died in the Welikada Police [Station] |
Mawbima: A court order to exhume the body of Sathsara who died in police custody | Constable of the state intelligence service arrested for misleading the investigation on the Easter Sunday attack Dinamina: Trump’s tax policy: President-party leaders meeting to be held today; explains the plan of the government Aruna: Delay in paying the salary increment to state employees; circular issued directing the payment to be made by April 25 Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ceylon Independent
“Our people will not accept any alternative mechanism other than the court mechanism” – Shanakiyan
Virakesari, Thinakkural
Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam claimed that the government mentions the Office on Missing Persons and the Office of Reconciliation as the solution to the protests over the disappearances, but the affected people are rejecting this mechanism, adding that the people are not ready to accept alternative mechanisms other than the court mechanism. Addressing parliament yesterday (9th), he further added that many people were killed and disappeared in the violence that took place in the past, and they (his party) had given the list pertaining to this matter to the minister of justice during the last session. He noted that the prime minister requested him to provide details regarding political prisoners, and that she should understand that as she is the prime minister in this government she should ask the minister of justice for the list; if not, he requested that he be given the post of PM to get the list done.
“Excuses on missing persons issue; the international community cannot be fooled” – Harsha de Silva
Thinakkural, Thamilan Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harsha de Silva claimed that that government went to the United Nations and stated in English that it has allocated more funds for the Office on Missing Persons and the Office for Reconciliation, and then came here and stated in Sinhala that it has allocated less funds. He added that the European Union delegation will not believe them because it has very skilled translators. He further added that there has been talk for a long time about repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The president stated that he would repeal the PTA upon coming to power; however, recently the president issued an order to arrest a Muslim youth under the PTA. |
“China supporters try to disrupt the India-Sri Lanka agreements; no room for China in the North and East” – Adaikkalanathan
Thinakkural, Virakesari Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) MP Amirthanathan (Selvam) Adaikkalanathan claimed that if the footmen of China try to disrupt the agreements signed between India and Sri Lanka they will oppose such disruptions. Addressing parliament yesterday (9th), he added that they will not allow any Chinese activities to be carried out in the North and East. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Sri Lanka Brief
Batalanda report: Debate to be held today
Lankadeepa, Divaina
The parliamentary debate on the Batalanda Commission report will take place today (10th). The debate is scheduled to be conducted in two stages. The debate on the ‘Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Establishment and Maintenance of Places of Unlawful Detention and Torture Chambers at the Batalanda Housing Scheme’, which was tabled in parliament on March 14, will take place initially. It was also decided to allocate another date in May to continue this as a two-day debate. The Batalanda Commission report was presented to parliament on March 14 by Leader of the House, Minister Bimal Rathnayake.
Samantha Ranasinghe to fill the seat left vacant by NPP MP Kosala Nuwan
Dinamina, Ada The Election Commission (EC) has announced that Samantha Ranasinghe of the NPP has been elected as a member of parliament to fill the seat left vacant by the passing away of NPP Kegalle District MP Kosala Nuwan Jayaweera. Ranasinghe, who served as the Rambukkana electoral organiser of the National People’s Power during the 2024 Parliamentary Election, was next on the NPP list based on the preference votes obtained. Accordingly, Ranasinghe has been elected as a member of parliament for the No. 22 – Kegalle Electoral District under Section 62 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981. |
“It was a cooperative understanding that was signed” – Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha
Divaina High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha stated that Sri Lanka and India have not signed a defence agreement. He stressed that a defence cooperative understanding agreement was signed between the defence ministries of the two countries. He added that the agreement was signed in order to strengthen the defence cooperation between the two countries and that India has signed many such cooperative understanding agreements with other friendly neighbouring countries as well. |
Only 8,000 out of the 50,000 tourism businesses are registered
Aruna
It was revealed that although there are over 50,000 businesses providing various facilities related to the tourism sector, only 8,000 of them are registered with the Tourism Development Authority. Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe stated that steps will be taken to promptly register those unregistered institutions and include them in the tax-paying group.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: News.lk
President calls party leader meeting over Trump’s taxation
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, heeding the Opposition’s request, has called an all-party leader meeting in order to discuss how the tax reforms implemented by U.S. President Donald Trump have affected Sri Lanka and the measures the government has taken so far to protect itself from them. Accordingly, the government has decided to hold the discussion at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo today (10th). Leaders of several parties, including Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, and members of parliament are scheduled to participate in the meeting. The decision to call a meeting was made following requests made by 12 opposition political party leaders.
Court orders to exhume the body of youth that died in police custody
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court issued orders for the exhumation of the body of the 26-year-old youth – who died while in police custody at the Welikada Police Station recently – to facilitate a fresh postmortem examination by a panel of three specialist doctors. The order was issued following a request made by the aggrieved party. The court instructed the chief judicial medical officer of Colombo to carry out a full and independent postmortem and submit a report.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. National Anti-Corruption Action Plan launched: “Will implement the law severely on corrupt officials” – President – Lankadeepa, Ada, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
2. The China-US trade war turns severe: China imposes 84% tax to match Trump’s 104% – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
3. A constable from Batticaloa arrested over the Easter Sunday attack – Lankadeepa, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari
4. “A committee to abolish the PTA: A bill from the justice minister” – PM Amarasuriya – Dinamina, Thinakaran
5. 55 arrested in relation to the LG elections – Ada, Aruna, Thinakaran
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