DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: What happened in Sri Lanka is a great catastrophe; UN announcement; Special humanitarian plan introduced for recovery from the Ditwah disaster impact; Public appeal to raise USD 35.3 million | “Ready to provide any assistance to rebuild Sri Lanka” – US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs states Thinakaran: “The US has confidence in the President’s actions to recover Sri Lanka; Necessary assistance will also be provided” – US Under Secretary of State assures | “Vatican will support affected Sri Lanka” – Pope |
Thinakkural: “1,241 landslides along with Cyclone Ditwah that pushed the country into disaster! Information revealed by satellite images” – Nalinda Jayatissa | “A situation where people are forcibly evacuated from landslide and flood-prone areas!” – Nalinda Jayatissa | Death certificate for those who disappeared due to floods and landslides Thamilan: Danger again due to monsoon winds! People refuse to evacuate in many places; Setback in landslide rescue operations as well |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: V“Sri Lanka needs non-debt aid as Cyclone Ditwah relief because the country can’t handle more loans” – UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche Divaina: Prison Superintendent severely assaulted for not letting inmates have fun at the Boossa Prison: two underworld figures, including Piyuma given transfers: “my husband was also beaten severely” – Piyuma’s wife states Mawbima: Old metal belonging to the Railway Department sold for Rs. 890 million: cabinet approval to give tenders to two companies | An interim injunction against cancelling the approval for Ambuluwawa: Ambuluwawa administration goes to court against Udapalatha Divisional Secretary
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Dinamina: “Rs. 520 billion estimation to rebuild roads across the country” – Minister Bimal Rathnayake Aruna: Compensation for a third-party death in an accident [increased to] Rs. 1 million – Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka Anidda: Approval given to visit Sri Pada via the route on which landslides occurred despite warnings |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
“I welcome the Hill Country relatives who wish to live in the North and East” – Sumanthiran
Thinakaran, Thinakkural
ITAK General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran stated that they affectionately invite the people of the Hill Country who wish to settle in the North and East.
He made this statement in response to a recent proposal by MP Mano Ganesan regarding relocating people living in hazardous areas of the Hill Country.
Sumanthiran noted that many individuals are willing to donate their private lands for this purpose, adding that efforts will also be made to secure government lands and agricultural lands for them.
“The North and East will always stand by the Hill Country Tamil relatives” – Suresh Premachandran states
Thinakkural Leader of the EPRLF Suresh K. Premachandran stated that the North and East will always stand by the Malayaga (Hill Country) Tamils, noting that Cyclone Ditwah has devastated the community and claiming over 700 people have died in landslides. He urged the government to provide safe locations in the Hill Country for plantation workers, who he noted still lack basic land and housing rights despite their economic contributions. Premachandran emphasised that if the government fails to protect them, the Tamil people of the North and East are prepared to provide land and assistance for their resettlement. He recalled that during past communal violence, Hill Country Tamils were welcomed in the North and East and stated that the diaspora and local Tamils are ready to support such a move again. |
“1,241 landslides along with Cyclone Ditwah that pushed the country into disaster! Information revealed by satellite images” – Nalinda JayatissaThinakkural Cabinet Spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa stated that satellite images have revealed that 1,241 landslides occurred in the Hill Country due to the adverse weather conditions caused by Cyclone Ditwah. Speaking at a press briefing held yesterday (11th) at the Department of Government Information, he noted that according to the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), such a high number of landslides had not been recorded in the past 10-20 years. He highlighted that the majority of these landslides were recorded in the Kandy District and attributed the scale of the disaster to the cyclone changing its path and remaining over the country for several hours. |
Cabinet approval for 2 wind power projects in MannarThinakaran, Virakesari The cabinet has approved a proposal to establish two wind power plants with a capacity of 50 MW in the Mullikulam area of Mannar. The proposal, submitted by the Minister of Energy, was approved during a meeting chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to support the goal of sourcing 70% of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Seven parties have submitted proposals for the projects, which are intended to operate for 20 years, following an international competitive bidding process. |
Vatican will support affected Sri Lanka – The PopeThinakaran Chargé d’Affaires of the Vatican Embassy in Colombo, Monsignor Roberto Lucchini, stated that His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has assured that the Vatican will support Sri Lankans affected by Cyclone Ditwah. Monsignor Lucchini noted that the pope expressed his condolences to the people affected by the disaster and pledged his support to Sri Lanka during this difficult time. Furthermore, the pope requested the Sri Lankan people to act with hope and determination in their efforts to rebuild the country following the natural disaster. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Newswire
Cabinet approval to fill 2,284 government service vacancies
Lankadeepa, Dinamina
The government is planning to recruit an additional 2,284 individuals to the state service to fill vacancies across various ministries.
These recruitments are slated to be executed based on the recommendations of the committee appointed to review the public service recruitment process and manage personnel.
Approval for implementing these committee recommendations was secured at the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday (10th), which was chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The proposal for this action was submitted by Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya.
A disaster relief loan scheme to rebuild enterprisesDivaina, Dinamina A loan scheme has been introduced to support the revival of micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the recent disaster conditions. The Cabinet memorandum related to this scheme was presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, and it has received Cabinet approval. |
“Rs. 520 billion estimation to rebuild roads across the country” – Minister Bimal RathnayakeDinamina Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake announced that Rs. 120 billion has been allocated to reconstruct all roads damaged across the country due to Cyclone Ditwah to a condition better than they were before. The minister also stated that an additional Rs. 400 billion has been allocated for road reconstruction through the 2026 Budget proposals, meaning a total of Rs. 520 billion has been set aside solely for road development. |
Cabraal has refused to pay the amount: cases to be filed in three months
Anidda
According to Anidda, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) will be obligated to initiate legal proceedings against former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Ajith Nivard Cabraal.
This action follows the former governor’s non-compliance with a High Court order mandating the repayment of government funds.
Appearing on behalf of Cabraal, his attorney stated before the court that Cabraal is not in agreement to pay Rs. 1,843,267,595.65 to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s account as a penalty.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ceylon Today
“Thank you for all the support that was given to Sri Lanka by other nations, including the US” – President | “The US will give any support to rebuild Sri Lanka” – US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker
Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker stated her belief that Sri Lanka would be able to rebuild under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and that the United States is prepared to provide any necessary assistance for the process.
Hooker made this statement while attending a meeting with President Dissanayake yesterday (11th) at the Presidential Secretariat.
During the meeting, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake thanked the government led by the American President for the assistance shown by sending various subsidies and relief teams to the country during this difficult period, and appreciated the heartfelt support given to Sri Lanka by all friendly nations of the world, including the United States.
The UN to collect USD 35 million within four months to restore public life in Sri Lanka – UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
The United Nations (UN) has taken steps to implement the Humanitarian Priority Plan to collect a sum of USD 35 million to support the efforts to restore public life in Sri Lanka, which was devastated by Cyclone Ditwah.
The plan has been implemented jointly by the UN and other humanitarian partners. Its official announcement was made under the patronage of UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche.
The UN and the Disaster Management Centre have jointly prepared a priority list covering seven sectors for this purpose.
Accordingly, the UN, along with local and international partners, is striving to raise USD 35 million within the next four months.
UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche emphasised that Sri Lanka needs non-debt aid as Cyclone Ditwah relief because the country can’t handle more loans.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. “Will announce the total damages caused by the cyclone between December 15-20” – Minister Nalinda Jayatissa – Divaina, Aruna, Thamilan
2. ICRC joins together with the Ministry of Health to curb the deadly dengue fever – Divaina, Thinakaran
3. “Doppler Disaster Detection System to be fixed by 2027” – Minister Nalinda Jayatissa – Dinamina, Thamilan
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