DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: Opposition MPs protest in parliament; strong opposition to the rejection of the no-confidence motion against the deputy minister; proceedings suspended; argument with Minister Bimal | Former presidents peacefully vacate official residences Thinakaran: Nutrition packs worth Rs. 5,000 each to be provided to 160,200 pregnant women for 10 months starting this December | Accountability mechanisms with UN technical assistance; Minister Vijitha Herath informs Volker | Budget for the year 2026 to be presented on November 7 | Rs. 2 million electricity bill for Namal’s wedding ceremony; Supreme Court grants permission to hear petition |
Thinakkural: Accountability for human rights violations in Sri Lanka through domestic mechanisms with UN assistance; Minister Vijitha Herath informs Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk | Who is misleading the people? Sukash challenges Sumanthiran! “Will the government investigate the massacres committed by the EPDP?” – Shritharan | Mahinda leaves Colombo residence; house to be handed over after one week | Chandrika and Maithri also vacate their residences Thamilan: Arms supply: Lieutenant Colonel arrested! Report reveals sale of 260 bullets to the underworld | “I will not quit politics” – Mahinda; leaves Wijerama residence |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga requests two months to vacate her official residence | Mahinda Rajapaksa leaves for the Carlton residence: Shiranthi becomes emotional; massive crowd, former ministers and MPs gather to bid farewell; the Chinese ambassador also arrives Divaina: Army Lieutenant Colonel arrested over supplying weapons to the underworld Mawbima: Lieutenant Colonel who provided weapons to ‘Commando Salintha’, arrested | A row in parliament over Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake’s word: two protests staged in parliament; session halted for 10 minutes |
Dinamina: Opposition plays devil’s advocate in parliament: House adjourned for 10 minutes | Official residences vacated: former presidents return to their villages; Mahinda Rajapaksa requests a week to hand over residence Aruna: “I was asked to leave the house, I left; I will not give up politics” – Mahinda Rajapaksa says at Carlton; Chinese ambassador also comes to bid farewell Anidda: Risk of a nationwide power outage; the next step of the CEB trade union action |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
Accountability mechanisms with UN technical assistance; Minister Vijitha Herath informs Volker Türk
Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Virakesari
Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath has informed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk that the government is ready to implement an accountability process for human rights violations through a domestic mechanism, with technical assistance from the Human Rights Council.
The two met in Geneva on Wednesday (10th) during the 60th session of the UNHRC.
High Commissioner Türk expressed confidence that there is a new turn in the protection of human rights under the new government, following his official visit to Sri Lanka in June.
He stressed that this opportunity to conduct independent investigations into past violations and establish a proper accountability mechanism should not be missed.
“An internal mechanism can never be accepted; the government must act with justice” – says MP Selvam Adaikkalanathan
Thamilan, Virakesari, Thinakkural
Speaking in parliament yesterday (11th), Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) MP Selvam Adaikkalanathan stated that a domestic mechanism for accountability regarding human rights violations will never be accepted. He asserted that any investigation must be conducted with international observation, expressing hope that the government will act justly. In light of a strong UN resolution, he questioned the credibility of a domestic inquiry proposed by the foreign minister. Adaikkalanathan also commended India for its firm stance on human rights and welcomed its call to implement the provincial council system for power devolution. |
“A fair external investigation is needed!” – MP Shritharan emphasises in parliamentThamilan, Virakesari, Thinakkural
Speaking in parliament yesterday (11th), ITAK MP S. Shritharan stated that war-affected people are demanding an external investigation because past domestic commissions have failed to deliver justice. He noted that recommendations from bodies appointed under former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, such as the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, were never implemented. Shritharan called on the government to investigate recent allegations by Suppiah Ponnaiah alias ‘Satha’, a former EPDP associate, who claimed at a press conference on September 9 that the EPDP was responsible for the murders of journalist Nimalarajan and others. He argued that the government’s refusal to permit an external probe is an attempt to protect the military and that justice and reconciliation are impossible without it. |
Provincial Council elections to be held soon! That is also the government’s expectation – Nalinda
Thinakaran Minister of Health and Mass Media Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the government expects to hold the Provincial Council elections soon. He made this statement in response to a query about India’s call during the Geneva sessions for the Sri Lankan government to conduct these elections. The minister noted that he could not provide a definite timeframe as the necessary legal amendments need to be passed. However, he affirmed that the elections will be held at the first available opportunity. |
Investigation into Mandaitivu killings is essential; EPDP tells President and IGP through urgent letterThinakaran
According to EPDP Media Secretary Srikanth Panneerselvam, party Secretary General Douglas Devananda has sent an urgent letter to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Inspector General of Police. The letter urges them to initiate an investigation into the Mandaitivu killings and reveal the truth to the public. Panneerselvam stated that the party is prepared to provide its full cooperation for such an investigation. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: ONLANKA
Manamperi is a leader of the weapons and drug dealing network of Padme: he has also worked as a security (officer) for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa | “Manamperi nowhere to be found” – Police Media Spokesperson
Divaina, Dinamina, Anidda
The Western Province North Crimes Division has revealed through its investigations that SLPP candidate for the Angunakolapelessa Pradeshiya Sabha, Sampath Manamperi, who is wanted for arrest in connection with a drug trafficking ring, has distributed narcotics belonging to ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’ and ‘Backhoe Saman’ across the country.
Divaina reported that he has been recognised as a leader of drug distribution in the drug trafficking network.
Anidda reports, quoting the Police Media Spokesperson, that Manamperi is nowhere to be found, although he is being pursued by the police in relation to the containers discovered with chemical material to produce ‘ice’.
“One receives true strength through the love of the people and not through privileges” – Namal Rajapaksa
Lankadeepa, Aruna SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa stated that one receives true strength through the love of the people and not through privileges. Rajapaksa made this statement yesterday (11) by posting a message on X, following former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s departure from his official residence in Colombo and his return to his hometown of Tangalle. His message read, “Today, my father leaves the official residence in Colombo and returns to Tangalle, the place where it all began. A reminder that true strength comes from our roots, the love of the people, not positions or privileges.” |
Prepared for the biggest strike in history after September 21 – CEB
Aruna, Anidda The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) trade unions say that if solutions are not provided to the demands of the board’s employees, all CEB employees nationwide are ready to launch the biggest strike in history after September 21. The trade unions point out that it will be one year since the current president came to power on September 21, and they are requesting the president not to create a situation where CEB employees are forced to take to the streets on that day. These views were expressed at a press conference held in Colombo yesterday (11th) by a collective of CEB trade unions. |
National Audit (Amendment) Bill passed
Dinamina
The National Audit (Amendment) Bill was passed with amendments in Parliament yesterday (11th).
The debate on the Bill began yesterday (11th) at 11:30 a.m. and was opened by Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security, Wasantha Samarasinghe.
Members from both the government and the opposition presented their views during the debate.
At the conclusion of the debate, Minister Sunil Handunneththi delivered the reply speech.
Following the presentation of the amendments, the Bill was passed with the said amendments.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Newswire
Official residences vacated: former presidents return to their villages; Mahinda Rajapaksa requests a week to hand over residence
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Former presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga vacated their official residences yesterday (11), less than 24 hours after the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill was passed in parliament.
Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga vacated her official residence on Independence Avenue, Colombo 7, yesterday (11th) afternoon.
However, Lankadeepa reported that she requested two months to vacate the residence.
Former President Maithripala Sirisena also departed from his official residence on Hector Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Colombo 7, yesterday (11th) morning.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa also vacated the Wijerama official residence yesterday (11) afternoon.
However, he has requested a one-week period to officially hand over the residence to the government.
Papers reported that a massive crowd, including former ministers and MPs, had gathered to bid farewell to former President Rajapaksa as he left the residence.
Lankadeepa and Aruna highlighted that the Chinese Ambassador had also arrived to bid farewell to Rajapaksa.
Divaina, Aruna and Thamilan quoted former President Rajapaksa stating that he vacated the house as he was asked by the government to hand it over, but that he will not leave politics.
He also added that when one lives in houses belonging to the government, they must be vacated whenever the government requests.
He added further that he will not be brought down by these actions.
Parliament heated over dismissing NCM against Aruna: opposition intervenes: parliamentary session halted for 10 minutes
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
A tense situation arose in the parliament, yesterday (11th), as the opposition acted in a disorderly manner in protest of the Speaker’s ruling on the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) they had brought against Deputy Minister of Defense Aruna Jayasekara.
Accordingly, Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne suspended the proceedings of the House for 10 minutes yesterday (11th).
The situation arose when Chief Opposition Whip, MP Gayantha Karunathilleka, questioned the Speaker’s ruling regarding the NCM against Deputy Minister Jayasekara.
The situation escalated when SJB MPs continued to express their views on the matter, while Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne also stated his position.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Army Lieutenant Colonel arrested over supplying weapons to the underworld – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thamilan
2. The electricity bill for Namal’s wedding day resurfaces: an FR petition of a lawyer to be taken up for hearing –Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran
3. Notices served on land and environment ministers over the Centre for Environmental Justice case – Divaina, Mawbima, Aruna, Virakesari
4. “Sri Lanka has gained a sharp and speedy progress while stabilising the economy” – WB | WB advises Sri Lanka to adopt a balanced financial strategy– Divaina, Thamilan
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