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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: President Anura’s China visit commences: Receives military honours on arrival, set to meet Chinese president today | “ETCA crucial for Sri Lanka”: Rajitha highlights mutual benefits for both countries | Five acting ministers appointed | “We did not try to intervene in the 13th Amendment” – Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar in Tamil Nadu | “2,500 passports to be issued daily under new arrangements” – Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala Thinakaran: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on official state visit to China, receives military honours on arrival; set to meet Chinese president today | “2,500 passports to be issued daily under new arrangements” – Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala | Compensation to be paid this month for crops damaged by natural disasters | Digital ID cards to be introduced soon |
Thinakkural: Cooperative union elections: National People’s Power faces two major defeats | “Ranil is preparing to defeat Anura and seize power; the SJB is preparing to prevent it” – SJB MP Chaminda Wijesiri | “I will meet Tamil Nadu chief minister soon on Sri Lankan-Indian fisherfolk issue” – MP Shritharan Thamilan: President Anura receives a grand welcome in China | New electricity tariff revision to be announced on Friday; proposal to reduce rates by 20 – 30% | Cooperative union elections: NPP faces two major defeats | Digital identity cards to be rolled out soon | 30 ships turned away from Colombo; port unions invited for further discussions |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: The water board has paid Rs. 940 million to Customs due to delays in releasing 122 containers | 2,000 vehicles missing from provincial councils | 10 companies request ministerial residences | Commission prepared to reduce the electricity tariffs by 22% | The last [electricity] amendment report to be given day-after-tomorrow Divaina: Luxury vehicles worth Rs. 120 million found in the possession of the couple that disrupted the police; no registration documents as well | President welcomed in China with respect and honour | “Harvesting of the Maha season begins; farmers are in tough spot without the guarenteed price for paddy” – Chair of the Govijana Ekamuthuwa Ada: Benefits worth Rs. 1,042.61 million have been given to 6,794 RDA employees without approval – Audit reveals |
Mawbima: A Rs. 5 billion tax evasion by four coconut importers; IRD begins investigations | Two corrupt officials to overlook archaeological proceedings in Kandy and Polonnaruwa; a person who was named not to be involved in archaeology also among them Dinamina: “The digital NIC to be released this month; the news that the data collection was assigned to an Indian company is a lie” – Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne Aruna: Basmati, mung seeds and peanuts brought under the guise of tax relief instead of Nadu (rice) Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Daily Mirror
“2,500 passports to be issued daily under new arrangements” – Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala
Virakesari, Thinakaran
Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala says steps have been taken to issue 2,500 passports per day, though previously only 1,200 were issued. He further stated that a separate counter has been opened to obtain passports for anyone who requires to travel abroad urgently, emphasising that applications submitted to that counter will be considered by a committee and steps will be taken to issue passports as soon as possible.
Indian fisherfolk issue: MP S. Shritharan states they have requested a meeting with Tamil Nadu chief ministerThinakaran, Thinakkural Speaking at a Thai Pongal event hosted by the ITAK’s Kilinochchi branch, MP S. Shritharan stated, “I have requested an opportunity to discuss the Indian fisherfolk issue with the Tamil Nadu chief minister.” He further mentioned that a meeting on the issue will be scheduled soon, following his request made during the Tamil Nadu government’s Neighbourhood Tamil Day event. |
“Use the opportunity to find a solution for fisherfolk’s problems” – Former minister Douglas advises Tamil MPs who visited ChennaiThinakkural, Virakesari EPDP Secretary General Douglas Devananda has called on Tamil MPs visiting India to use the opportunity to find a permanent solution to the Indian and Sri Lankan fisherfolk issue. Speaking on the matter, he emphasised that Tamil MPs should aim for a permanent resolution to the fisherfolk’s problems, and that they must engage with leaders, including the Tamil Nadu chief minister, and highlight the struggles of our fishermen. Devananda further noted that it is essential to present the issue clearly to the people of Tamil Nadu. Despite various past efforts to resolve the matter amicably, he pointed out that attempts to meet Tamil Nadu leaders, including the chief minister, had not yielded results. He stressed the importance of utilising this rare opportunity to seek a solution. |
Cooperative union elections: NPP faces two major defeats
Thinakkural, Thamilan
The National People’s Power (NPP), despite its success in the 2024 Presidential and General Elections, faced a crushing defeat in the 2025 Homagama cooperative elections, winning only 17 of 59 areas. Former Homagama Pradeshiya Sabha member Kamal Chandana, speaking at a media briefing, emphasised the significant opposition to the NPP, with his joint groups securing 31 areas. Chandana criticised the NPP’s past threats to control cooperative societies, and defended the Homagama cooperative societies against corruption allegations. He highlighted the profitability and success of the societies and called for national leaders to take inspiration from this victory for future governance.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Newswire
“The government has lost many wickets in the 10th over of the Test match itself” – Patali Champika Ranawaka
Ada, Aruna
Leader of the Eksath Janaraja Peramuna (EJP), former MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, stated that even though a minister of the government said that they had come to play a cricket Test match, many wickets have been lost by the end of the first 10 overs itself. Ranawaka made the statement yesterday (14th) while addressing the media after attending a special Thai Pongal Day programme held in Wellawatte. Ranawaka, who answered the questions raised by journalists, stated that the president is unable to prove what he has talked about, unable to act and is in a very helpless situation, and added that the prime minister is also in a very helpless situation.
“The SJB is willing to join anyone who is not corrupt” – Gayantha Karunathilleka
Mawbima Chief Opposition Whip and SJB MP Gayantha Karunathilleka stated that the SJB is prepared to join anyone who is not corrupt. He added that the SJB is prepared to come to an |
Non governmental organisations support the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative
Dinamina The Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs states that a programme to consult non-governmental organisations for the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative was recently held at the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs auditorium. During the programme, non-governmental organisations had stated that the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative is a much awaited programme and has the potential to make a massive impact on society. Non-governmental organisations have therefore expressed their |
Legal action against eight candidates from Galle who have not submitted expense reports for the general election
Dinamina
Galle District Assistant Election Commissioner W.H.R. Vijaya Kumara has informed the Galle Police to take legal action against six candidates of three political parties and two candidates of two independent groups who have not submitted their income and expenditure reports after competing in the 2024 General Election. The candidates in question have not done so despite the government announcement directing all political parties, independent groups and candidates to submit their election expenditure reports before December 6, 2024.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Daily FT
President welcomed in China with respect and honour | President to meet the Chinese president today
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was warmly welcomed yesterday (14th) when he arrived at the Beijing International Airport on his first state visit to China on the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The president was ceremonially welcomed by the Chinese military and was formally received by Deputy Foreign Minister of China Chen Xiaodong. Additionally, President Dissanayake is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping this afternoon (15th) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. It is also expected that several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) will be signed following bilateral discussions between President Dissanayake and the president of China.
“The digital NIC to be released this month; the news that the data collection was assigned to an Indian company is a lie” – Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne
Divaina, Ada, Dinamina, Thinakaran, Thamilan
Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne stated that the issuance of digital national identity cards (NICs) will commence this month. Weeraratne revealed that all new NICs will be transitioned to a digital format. The deputy minister highlighted further that this initiative aims to address the significant delays currently experienced in obtaining identity cards. He also disclosed that the cost of implementing the digital identity card system is estimated at Rs. 20 billion. Weeraratne expressed that in order to ease the financial burden, half of this cost will be covered through assistance from India. Weeraratne further commented that the news that has been circulating that the data collection for the purpose of issuing new NICs was assigned to India is a rumour. He added that there is no threat to the security of the country by obtaining assistance from India for the issuance of digital NICs.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Customs works tirelessly without leave to reduce container traffic – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakaran
2. Commission prepared to reduce the electricity tariffs by 22% | The last [electricity] amendment report to be given day-after-tomorrow – Lankadeepa, Thamilan
3. Acting ministers appointed for five ministries – Divaina, Virakesari
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