20 February 2025 | Vol. 11, #30

FrontPage sheds light on the different realities between Sri Lanka's two main language communities. By reading today's FrontPage, you can be better informed about the different priorities in the Sinhala and Tamil press.

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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS

 

Tamil Headlines

 

Virakesari: Gunfire on Ganemulla Sanjeewa in the court; the person who came dressed as a lawyer [made it] bravely; it was pathetic when he stood in the defendant’s box

Thinakaran: Notorious drug trafficker and underworld figure Ganemulla Sanjeewa shot dead; a brave incident at the Colombo Magistrate’s Court

Thinakkural: Bravery at Colombo court; prisoner shot dead in front of the judge; killer disguised as a lawyer opened fire and escaped easily

Thamilan: Terror in daylight! Ganemulla Sanjeewa killed in shooting in the court; gunman arrested while trying to escape

 

Sinhala Headlines

 

Lankadeepa: Shot to death in front of the magistrate: The Ganemulla Sanjeewa murder was a Rs. 15 million
contract; the pistol was brought hidden in a book

 

Divaina: Ganemulla Sanjeewa’s murderer caught in Puttalam while trying to flee to India: The shooter is a former commando soldier | The Middeniya Kajja murder was a contract from the underworld in the South: Six-year-old daughter who was also shot reported dead on the spot while the son suffered serious injuries | Another murder reported in Kotahena day-before-yesterday

Ada: Ganemulla Sanjeewa shot and murdered in the defendant’s dock   

Mawbima: Eye witnesses explain how the murderer fled the scene following the shooting, shouting “Ganemulla Sanjeewa escaped” | Middeniya shooting kills father and daughter; son suffers serious injuries

Dinamina: Ganemulla Sanjeewa’s murderer caught in eight hours; a Rs. 15 million contract, had only received
Rs. 200,000; caught in Puttalam when trying to flee the country; the murderer is a former commando soldier

Aruna: Ganemulla Sanjeewa’s murderer caught; had fled the scene with suspicious woman 

Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only

 

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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES

 

Photo credits: Facebook

“Even if the United States withdraws, a new resolution can be passed” – British high commissioner points out to Sumanthiran

Virakesari, Thinakkural

British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick has pointed out to Acting General Secretary of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) M.A. Sumanthiran that negotiations are underway to bring the Sri Lankan government to comply with the resolution passed at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), and that if it does not comply, a new resolution will have to be brought. At a discussion at the high commission on Tuesday (18th), they discussed the budget allocations for the North and the next steps to be taken regarding Sri Lanka at the UNHRC. The high commissioner told Sumanthiran that the progress made in this regard and the decisions regarding the next steps will be known only during the 59th session of the UNHRC to be held in June [this year]. He added that even if the United States withdraws from the Human Rights Council, they still have the support that has already been coordinated by the United States, and therefore, if a new resolution is to be passed, they will be able to use that support.

Kajendren and Velan Swamikal summoned to appear at the Palaly Police Station for investigation over protest at Thaiyiddy Viharaya

Thinakkural

General Secretary of the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) and former MP Selvarajah Kajendren and Chief Coordinator of the People’s Uprising Movement from Poththuvil to Polikandy Velan Swamigal have been summoned to the Palaly Police Station today (20th) to record statements regarding the protest held near the Thaiyiddy Viharaya recently.

“The minister of justice and the minister of public security should
resign immediately” – Hector Appuhamy

Thinakkural, Virakesari

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Hector Appuhamy has called on the minister of justice and the minister of public security to immediately step down from their posts. Addressing parliament yesterday (19th), he noted that for the first time in the history of Sri Lanka, a suspect has been shot dead in front of the judge in the court.

 

SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES

 

Photo credits: Lanka Leader.lk

PC who helped Harak Kata flee the country captured in India

Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina

The Police Constable (PC) who aided suspected drug trafficker and organised crime suspect Nadun Chinthaka Wickremeratne alias Harak Kata to escape Criminal Investigations Department (CID) custody was arrested in India along with four others. Accordingly, four Sri Lankan suspects who were wanted over their involvement in various crimes were arrested in Chennai, India and were subsequently brought to Sri Lanka yesterday (19th).

Russian woman travelling on the ‘Podi Manike’ train falls to death while taking selfies

Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Dinamina

A Russian tourist travelling on the ‘Podi Menike’ train from Badulla to Colombo Fort was reported dead after falling off the train while attempting to take a selfie. The accident occurred yesterday (19th) near Amunuwelpitiya, close to the Badulla tunnel. The deceased woman has been identified as a 50-year-old Russian national, who had arrived in Sri Lanka from Russia with a group of 12 other foreign tourists. Steps had been taken to transport the injured woman onboard the same train, and she had been handed over to the Hali-Ela Railway Station.

Another murder reported in Kotahena day-before-yesterday

Divaina, Aruna

An individual was stabbed and murdered with a sharp tool in the Kotahena area day-before-yesterday (18th). The Kotahena Police stated that the deceased was identified as a 22-year-old resident of the Mattakkuliya area. Further investigations on the incident are being carried out by the Kotahena Police and Colombo Crime Division.

LG election gazette issued

Mawbima

A gazette notification pertaining to the Local Government (LG) election was issued by Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Chandana Abayarathna yesterday (19th). The minister specified that the term of the members of 337 local government authorities should commence on June 2, 2025. The minister issued the gazette in terms of the powers vested in him by Paragraph (b) of Sub-Section (1) and Section 10 of the Municipal Councils Ordinance, Chapter 252.

Minister of justice also checked upon entering courts

Dinamina, Aruna

Minister of Justice Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara was security checked yesterday (19th) as he entered the court premises. The move was made following a decision made by the police to check even the lawyers entering the court premises after the incident of the murder of Ganemulla Sanjeewa in the court complex.

 

 

COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS

Photo credits: Ada Derana

Shot to death in front of the magistrate: The Ganemulla Sanjeewa murder was a Rs. 15 million contract; the pistol was brought hidden in a book | Shooter captured in Palaviya along with a fake lawyer ID

Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan

Notorious drug trafficker and underworld gang leader Sanjeewa Kumara Samararathne, alias Ganemulla Sanjeewa, was fatally shot yesterday (19th) inside the Hulftsdorp Court Complex. The Police Special Task Force (STF) arrested the suspected shooter in the Palaviya area in Puttalam while attempting to flee to India. The arrested suspect has been identified as 34-year-old former commando soldier Mohamed Azman Sheriffdeen. Following the shooting, the gunman was seen fleeing the scene along with another suspect, a woman dressed in a saree, who allegedly handed the gun over to the shooter.

Ganemulla Sanjeewa, who was remanded in custody at Boossa Prison, was escorted to court yesterday (19th) by prison officials for court proceedings. He, according to the police, was a suspect in 19 murder cases. The papers report that the murder was a Rs. 15 million contract and the police states that the captured suspect had only received Rs. 200,000 at the time of being captured.

“The country is currently under IMF probation” – President states at the Post-Budget Forum

Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake attended the Post-Budget forum 2025 held yesterday (19th) at Cinnamon Life Hotel in Colombo. Speaking at the event, the president stated that Sri Lanka, which was made bankrupt due to the weak decisions of past leaders, is currently in a certain probationary status under the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Accordingly, he added, the main goal of the 2025 Budget is to build a strong economy in order to rebuild the country. Thinakkural highlights, quoting the president, that the IMF has saved Sri Lanka.

The president also informed that the construction of the Sampur power plant will commence in April 2025. The Tamil press highlights, quoting the president, that steps have been taken towards building a strong economy and that debts are expected to be paid by 2028.

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Common priorities: Additional stories

1. The Middeniya Kajja murder was a contract from the underworld in the South: Six-year-old daughter who was also shot reported dead on the spot while the son suffered serious injuries – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan

2. “Law to be exercised strictly on the underworld” – Nalinda Jayatissa Lankadeepa, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran

3. “Crimes have increased to the extent that one cannot even go to the court” – Premadasa Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Dinamina, Thinakkural, Thamilan

4. Deposits of the [LG] election that was not held to be returned – Mawbima, Thinakkural, Thamilan

5. Hold the LG election soon – NPP leaders request EC – Dinamina, Thamilan

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