DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: “Action can be taken against the government in court; better than appointing a Parliamentary Select Committee” — Cabinet Spokesperson announces | “Ready to continue providing support to Sri Lanka” — Isabelle Martin, High Commissioner for Canada in Sri Lanka Thinakaran: “Those who claim there were errors in the Ditwah forecasting should approach the court” – Nalinda | Asian Regional Debt Management Conference; Decided to be held in Sri Lanka |
Thinakkural: “False criticisms regarding Cyclone Ditwah; Anyone can go to court against the government! Those spreading fake news can be brought before the court” — Nalinda Jayatissa | Landslide red alerts lifted! Phase 1 and Phase 2 warnings continue | Disaster management: Government’s plan a major failure Thamilan: Full withdrawal of Ondansetron vaccine use; Ministry of Health announces that investigations are underway regarding suspicious deaths | Minister Nalinda departs for Delhi today; Special focus on Indian medical aid | “The government is also responsible for the actions of the police” – Supreme Court!; A landmark judgment in a fundamental human rights violation case |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Loss incurred by the disaster is Rs. 100 billion: damages worth Rs. 75 billion caused to roads alone: Rs. 20 billion loss to the CEB; Rs. 5.6 billion loss to the Water Board; costs to railway damages have not been estimated yet; support of the WB sought to rebuild power and energy Divaina: “Total loss incurred by the railway system is Rs. 340 billion: it will take at least a year to travel to Kandy by train; 50m-100m of railroad has been subject to landslides in some areas; the rebuilding of the Kotagala-Ambewela railway track has also been difficult” – Transport and Highways Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena Mawbima: President calls all district secretaries to Colombo to have a broad discussion about providing relief [to those affected by the cyclone] | Blind elephant set fire and killed in Seeppukulama
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Dinamina: International Aid Conference to rebuild Sri Lanka: The ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund receives Rs. 3.4 billion: disaster damage exceeds Rs. 7 billion Aruna: Government must be held accountable for actions of police in civil attire – Supreme Court Anidda: This paper is published only on Fridays |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Sri Lanka Mirror
“False criticisms regarding Cyclone Ditwah; Anyone can go to court against the government! Those spreading fake news can be brought before the court” – Nalinda Jayatissa
Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Virakesari
Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa challenged those alleging errors in the recent cyclone warnings to seek legal recourse, stating that court proceedings would expose those who manipulated news to mislead the public.
He claimed that critics were attempting to undermine the Department of Meteorology by conflating three distinct weather events that occurred in November.
Jayatissa asserted that this campaign was a conspiracy intended to draw parallels between the current situation and the Easter Sunday attacks.
Furthermore, he rejected calls for a parliamentary select committee, maintaining that the judiciary is the appropriate forum to address these allegations.
“A permanent solution to the Eelam Tamil issue”; Team heads to Chennai seeking support from Tamil Nadu political parties
Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran Thinakkural, Virakesari: A delegation led by Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) Leader MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam arrived in Chennai to hold discussions with political leaders in Tamil Nadu. The visit aims to garner support for a federal constitution that recognises the Tamil nation, its sovereignty, and the right to self-determination. The party accused the Sri Lankan government of attempting to impose a unitary constitution and emphasised the need for international intervention to prevent this outcome. Furthermore, the delegation intends to request Tamil Nadu leaders to urge the Indian government to exert strong pressure on Sri Lanka regarding this political solution. Thinakaran: PLOTE Leader and former MP Dharmalingam Siddarthan stated that discussing the current setbacks in Tamil politics with political leaders in Tamil Nadu is a favourable approach. He made these remarks while commenting on the Tamil National Council’s visit to Chennai to seek support against the government’s alleged attempt to impose a unitary constitution. Siddarthan endorsed the delegation’s objective of securing the backing of Indian political figures to oppose the government’s moves. |
“Ready to continue providing support to Sri Lanka” — Isabelle Martin, High Commissioner for Canada in Sri LankaVirakesari Newly appointed Canadian High Commissioner Isabelle Catherine Martin met Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya at Temple Trees to discuss bilateral cooperation. During the meeting, Martin pledged Canada’s continued support to Sri Lanka, specifically emphasising the agricultural sector to ensure livelihood and economic stability. She expressed condolences regarding the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah and affirmed readiness to assist in the country’s return to normalcy. In response, the prime minister thanked the international community for their relief assistance and noted that the government has initiated the second phase of post-disaster recovery, which includes supporting farmers to resume cultivation. Furthermore, the high commissioner highlighted the importance of effectively implementing official language policies to ensure inclusivity, suggesting the potential use of AI tools for translation and communication. |
Safe housing for the Up-country people; Canadian Tamil Congress proposes ideas under two main principles
Virakesari
The Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) urged the government to adopt a long-term, safety-focused approach to address the plight of the Hill Country people affected by frequent natural disasters, rather than returning them to unsafe locations.
In a statement issued following the impact of Cyclone Ditwah, the organisation proposed two strategies: safe relocation within the Hill Country or voluntary relocation to the North and East.
The CTC emphasised that any relocation must be non-coercive, based on informed consent, and ensure land rights, housing, and livelihood facilities.
Furthermore, the organisation expressed its readiness to collaborate with civil society and humanitarian agencies to protect the safety and rights of the community.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
Rs. 36 billion from the World Bank for the development of infrastructure destroyed by the cyclone
Lankadeepa, Dinamina
The World Bank (WB) has reached an agreement to grant a sum of Rs. 36 billion (USD 120 million) for the development of essential services and infrastructure in areas severely damaged by Cyclone Ditwah.
In response to a request from the Sri Lankan government, the WB states that this amount will be provided to Sri Lanka as emergency assistance, which can be obtained by repurposing funds from existing projects.
“More than 50% of the Rs. 25,000 relief has been paid” – Nalinda JayatissaDinamina Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr Nalinda Jayatissa stated yesterday (16th) that more than 50% of the Rs. 25,000 allowance provided during the process of granting compensation to individuals affected by the disaster situation has been distributed by now. Furthermore, the minister stated that government officials are currently conducting assessments for the granting of other compensation. Accordingly, Jayatissa added that among the affected groups, compensation has already been completed for 73.4% in the Gampaha District, 68.39% in Ratnapura, 65.28% in Matale, 70.05% in Anuradhapura, and 61.42% in Kurunegala. |
“The people’s trust in disaster management has dwindled” – Sajith PremadasaMawbima Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa stated that the people’s trust in the disaster management process has dwindled. Premadasa stressed that the disaster management process of the country is unsuccessful and distorted, and that a modern process must replace it. He added that the lives of thousands of people have been destroyed due to the cyclone and that a change must occur in the disaster management process in order to provide solutions to the affected. |
Rs. 600 million worth of compensation for crop damages due to cyclone to be transferred to the accounts of farmers
Dinamina
Commissioner General of Agrarian Development Dhammika Ranatunga told Dinamina that arrangements were made yesterday (16th) to credit a sum of Rs. 600 million to the bank accounts of paddy farmers who suffered crop damage, commencing the provision of compensation for crop damages caused by the prevailing disaster situation.
He further emphasised that the Department of Agrarian Development plans to complete approximately 80% of the compensation payments for farmers’ crop damages within this week.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: The Morning
Loss of Rs. 100.5 billion to RDA, CEB, and Water Board from the disaster
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Thinakkural, Thamilan
It was revealed during the meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development that the loss incurred by the Road Development Authority (RDA), Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) due to the disaster situation is Rs. 100.5 billion.
Officials of the Ministry of Transport and Highways stated that it is currently estimated that the Road Development Authority has incurred a loss of approximately Rs. 75 billion due to the destruction of roads and bridges caused by the disaster situation.
Officials of the CEB informed the committee that the board has incurred a loss of approximately Rs. 20 billion due to this disaster situation.
“The Ondansetron [vaccine] has been withdrawn: investigations into the two deaths to be launched” – Nalinda Jayatissa
Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thamilan
Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr Nalinda Jayatissa stated that steps have been taken to remove the Ondansetron injection, imported by MAAN Pharmaceuticals Ltd, from use in the country.
Joining the cabinet media briefing yesterday (16th), he stated that this step was taken due to the reporting of two deaths following the use of the vaccine. He noted that among them are a 37-year-old and a 23-year-old woman. Jayatissa added that investigations into both deaths will be launched.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Rs. 36 billion from the World Bank for the development of infrastructure destroyed by the cyclone – Lankadeepa, Dinamina
2. “More than 50% of the Rs. 25,000 relief has been paid” – Nalinda Jayatissa – Dinamina
3. “The people’s trust in disaster management has dwindled” – Sajith Premadasa – Mawbima
4. Rs. 600 million worth of compensation for crop damages due to cyclone to be transferred to the accounts of farmers – Dinamina
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