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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: Do not act contrary to the mandate we have given – Northern land owners protest in Colombo demanding the release of their ancestral lands | Photograph: Land Thinakaran: “Chemmani, Easter attacks: Truth will be revealed through impartial investigations” – Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala | “Talks to obtain U.S. tax concessions will continue” – Nalinda Jayatissa |
Thinakkural: Will Azaad Maulana be brought in for the Easter Sunday attack investigation?; diplomatic efforts underway to bring in the necessary people; steps taken to arrest some more says Minister Nalinda Jayatissa | Valikamam North people protest near the Presidential Secretariat demanding their ancestral lands | “30% of lands in the Jaffna peninsula being occupied by the military” – Gajendrakumar | “If the navy cannot control entry of Indian fisherfolks, give the responsibility to the fisherfolks” – MP Ravikaran Thamilan: Easter Sunday attacks case: “New information revealed” – Minister Nalinda; “Attacks investigation from new angles” – Minister Wijepala; opines on the recommendations of the court and Attorney General’s Department |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Court verdicts and quorum issues delay establishment of 50 local governments | Sri Lanka’s apparel industry to go to India if Trump’s taxes aren’t reduced? Divaina: Verdict given by the Appeals Court in 2020 challenged: Murder [committed] by former minister resurfaces; a writ order was also issued at the time rendering the indictment null and void Ada: Specialist doctor attached to the Jayewardenapura Hospital granted bail |
Mawbima: Youth from Mawanella, who was arrested by the Dehiwala Police and remanded for nine months without any fault, granted bail | Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne banned from entering the Jayewardenapura Hospital: bail granted on strict conditions Dinamina: Investigations into irregularities in the Samata Sevana programme during Sajith’s time: Only 367 of 2,562 villages were opened; although loans worth Rs. 13 billion were given, they had not been repaid Aruna: Bhathiya bids farewell, leaving the whole world in tears: 219 elephant deaths reported this year out of which 37 were shooting incidents Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Lanka Sara
Valikamam North land owners protest in Colombo, demanding release of ancestral lands | “High Security Zones are a threat to Tamil lands; 16 years after the end of the war the situation remains pitiful” – Gajendrakumar
Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Virakesari, Thamilan
Virakesari, Thinakkural: Land owners from the Valikamam North area in Jaffna staged a protest in front of the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (15th) demanding the release of their ancestral lands which have been occupied by the military for the last 35 years. Virakesari highlights that the protesters handed over a letter to the Presidential Secretariat with their requests.
Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Thamilan: Speaking at the protest, All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam stated that Tamil people are unable to access their own lands because of High Security Zones. He expressed concern that these zones have not been removed even though it has been 16 years since the war ended. Ponnambalam highlighted that 30% of the Jaffna peninsula has been acquired under the pretext of these security zones. He recalled a report by an Indian military official named Nambiar which stated that the zones could be dismantled once the LTTE was eliminated and their artillery threat removed, asserting that the current situation is unacceptable.
Will Azaad Maulana be brought in for the Easter Sunday attacks
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“Chemmani, Easter attacks: Truth will be revealed through impartial investigations” – Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala
Thinakaran Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala stated that impartial investigations into the Chemmani mass grave and |
“Provincial council elections should not be delayed” – National Movement for Social Justice
Virakesari
The National Movement for Social Justice has emphasised that it is essential to address the complexities within the provincial council electoral system. The movement suggested that if required the president could appoint a special commission to obtain recommendations on the matter. However, the organisation stressed that no issue should be used as a reason to postpone the provincial council elections. It insisted that the elections must be held within the proper timeframe.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Newswire
Bhathiya bids farewell, leaving the whole world in tears: 219 elephant deaths reported this year out of which 37 were shooting incidents
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna
Bhathiya, the tusker that had become yet another victim of brutal poachers and was receiving treatment for its injuries, passed away yesterday (15th). Despite the dedicated and tireless efforts of a large team, including veterinary specialists, all attempts to save him were ultimately unsuccessful. Bhathiya, estimated to be between 30 and 35 years old, had long captured the attention and affection of both wildlife enthusiasts and local communities. Despite his strength and impressive stature, he endured immense suffering over the years, having been repeatedly targeted in gunfire attacks.
“An immediate mechanism to fix the human-elephant conflict” – Nalinda Jayatissa
Ada, Dinamina Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa stated that a mechanism to resolve human-elephant conflicts will be strictly implemented, taking into account the proposals and views of all relevant parties. He made these remarks yesterday (15th), during a media briefing held by the Department of Government Information to announce cabinet decisions, in response to a question raised by a journalist regarding the death of Bhathiya the tusker. Further elaborating, the minister said: “Such incidents cause our country to tremble. The problem of elephants dying because of humans and humans suffering because of elephants has been with us for a long time. Various proposals have been developed by international and local university experts, as well as different individuals and organisations. These have been implemented from time to time. We continue to seek solutions for this issue.” |
“A presidential task force is required to find solutions for the human-elephant conflict” – Premadasa
Mawbima, Dinamina Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa requested the establishment of a presidential task force to address the human-elephant conflict, emphasising the loss of Bhathiya the tusker. Premadasa made this statement during a special press briefing held yesterday (15th). He noted that with the death of Bhathiya, the tusker, Sri Lanka’s elephant population will face further destruction. He highlighted that the country’s elephant population is limited, and is decreasing further. He added that although attention will now be focused on the elephant population following the death of this tusker, this is not a problem that arose overnight. |
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne prohibited from entering the Jayewardenapura Hospital: bail granted on strict conditions
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court granted bail to consultant neurosurgeon attached to the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne. Wijeratne was arrested and remanded on suspicion of engaging in corrupt practices by allegedly selling surgical equipment to patients at inflated prices. The Colombo chief magistrate granted bail after considering the facts presented by officials from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and the representations of the defence counsel. The doctor was ordered to be released on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 and two sureties of Rs. 5 million each. Additionally, the suspect has been prohibited from entering the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital premises. She has also been banned from travelling overseas.
Former SriLankan Airlines Chair Nishantha Wickramasinghe released on strict bail conditions
Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court granted bail to former Chair of SriLankan Airlines Nishantha Wickramasinghe, who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over corruption charges. The CIABOC has accordingly filed three corruption-related charges against Wickramasinghe related to incidents that occurred during his tenure at SriLankan Airlines, in 2014, resulting in financial losses to the government.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. “Engaging in trade union action will not benefit the postal service” – Nalinda Jayatissa – Divaina, Ada, Aruna, Thinakaran
2. “We will hold further discussions to reduce U.S. tariffs” – Jayatissa – Ada, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
3. Youth from Mawanella, who was arrested by the Dehiwala Police and remanded for nine months without any fault, granted bail – Mawbima, Thinakaran, Thamilan
4. Membership of six SJB members of the Beruwala Urban Council revoked – Lankadeepa, Dinamina, Thinakkural
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