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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: Voting on May 6. Filing of nominations ends; thousands of candidates in the field Thinakaran: Local government elections on May 6 – Election Commission announced yesterday |
Thinakkural: For 8,241 seats in 336 local government councils more than 80,000 candidates are in the field! 60% are from constituencies and 40% are elected on a proportional basis. Thamilan: Election on May 6. Acceptance of nominations for local government elections ended yesterday |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Remanded till April 3: CID granted permission to visit the prison and record statement from Deshabandu | The Ministry of Energy looks for answers to Adani’s letter: Adani not prepared to reduce the price of a unit of electricity Divaina: “Money has been pumped to politicians through wine stores: Rs. 1,098 million sent to a group of politicians of the Opposition from a Mendis Company account” – Wasantha Samarasinghe | No bail for Deshabandu: Remanded further till April 3 Ada: [Suspended] IGP remanded further till April 3 |
Mawbima: LG elections to be held on May 6 after seven years; members to be appointed to 28 municipal councils, 36 town councils, 336 pradeshiya sabhas | 1,700 vehicles to be released from Hambantota today and tomorrow Dinamina: LG elections to be held on May 6 | Deshabandu remanded till April 3: Transferred to the Ududumbara Prison Aruna: The monkey [census] report of Mihintale leaked: Investigations underway to find out who leaked the report; the report states that there are 40,000 monkeys, 19,000 langurs and 24,000 peacocks Anidda: “Sri Lanka Cricket has made a decision to make Deshabandu its security advisor; a monthly allowance of Rs. 150,000; communication allowance, a laptop and a health insurance [to also be given]” – MP Hesha Withanage |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Amnesty International
Mirusuvil massacre: Sunil Ratnayake banned from travelling until verdict
Thinakkural, Thamilan
The High Court yesterday completed the hearing of five fundamental rights petitions filed challenging President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s pardon of Sri Lanka Army Staff Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the beheading of eight Tamils in Jaffna. The court informed that the verdict would be announced in due course, and until then it ordered Staff Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake to surrender his passport to the court. Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Mahinda Samayawardhena and Arjuna Obeyesekere completed the hearing of the cases yesterday (20th), and adjourned till the verdict.
Archchuna supports Gajendrakumar if their independent party is rejected | The ban on Archchuna may affect many others
Thinakkural MP Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna stated that if their independent group is rejected in the Jaffna District for local government elections, people should vote for the Tamil National People’s Front led by Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam. He made this statement while speaking to the media after submitting nominations for the local government elections yesterday (20th). Commenting on the ban imposed on Archchuna, MP Shritharan questioned whether it was a healthy thing for a Tamil MP, Archchuna, to be banned for the first time in this parliament. He further stated that the crimes committed against MPs could affect many more people and this could affect national harmony. |
Special arrangements for the development of the plantation people. Prime minister rejects criticism
Thamilan Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the budget contains sustainable and excellent proposals for the development of the plantation people, and that those who have the power of the people as their mandate are severely questioning the budget. She made this statement while speaking in the debate on the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in the 2025 Budget held in parliament yesterday (20th). She further stated that the debate on their government’s first budget has been going on for a month, and while most members of the Opposition have put forward good ideas, a few have expressed their views from very different perspectives. However, the 2025 Budget, which has been released amidst the economic crisis, has provided relief to all, and special attention has been paid to the sustainable development of the plantation people, she added. |
The government plans to modernise the Valaichchenai paper mill. The goal is to increase production to 500 tonnes
Thinakaran
Deputy Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe stated in parliament yesterday (20th) that the government’s goal is to modernise the Valaichchenai paper mill with private sector participation and increase production to 500 tonnes. He mentioned this while responding to questions raised by ITAK MP S. Shritharan during the parliament session yesterday (20th). Continuing his speech, the deputy minister further stated that steps will be taken in the future to use the 330-acre land of the factory to create a multi-purpose manufacturing zone. In the past, there were opportunities when state-owned enterprises were sold at low prices or closed. The current government’s plan is to revive such enterprises, he added.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Daily News
33 SJB members and eight vehicles arrested for violating election laws by going in a motorcade
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Dinamina
33 supporters of a group of SJB candidates contesting the Pathahewaheta Pradeshiya Sabha in Kandy, who attempted to travel in a motorcade in violation of election laws, were arrested by the Kandy Police along with eight vehicles yesterday (20th) afternoon. The police arrested the participants while they were engaged in a parade carrying banners and flags with images of the leader of the SJB and the candidates contesting this year’s local government elections.
Lankadeepa reports the arrested number of individuals as 27, while Divaina reports the number as 30. Ada reports that the arrested number of individuals was 36.
Adani not prepared to reduce the price of a unit of electricity
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada Issuing a statement, India’s Adani Green Energy Sri Lanka Limited stated that they strongly deny the recent speculations regarding alleged changes to its renewable energy agreement with Sri Lanka. The official statement reads that the company categorically refutes claims that it had revised its pricing to USD 7 cents per kwh, calling such reports false and without foundation. The company reaffirmed its full commitment to the original terms of the agreement established with the Sri Lankan authorities, emphasising that its investment plans and project parameters remain unchanged. However, the statement also confirmed that Adani Green Energy SL Ltd. has wilfully and respectfully withdrawn from the proposed wind project. |
“I know about the masterminds behind the Easter attack” – Ven. Gnanasara Thera
Ada, Aruna General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera stated that he knows the masterminds behind the Easter Sunday attack in 2019 and is willing to reveal all information he knows about the matter to either the president or to the second in command next to the president. He added that Malcom Cardinal Ranjith, Manusha Nanayakkara and Harin Fernando who have made statements claiming that there is a mastermind behind the attack must be immediately questioned. |
“The Sathosa tender has been given to the president’s advisor’s company” – Mujibur Rahuman alleges
Anidda
SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman alleged in parliament on Wednesday (19th) that the Sathosa tender has been given to a company affiliated with the advisor to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Accordingly, he alleged that the tender has been awarded to Ernst & Young, with whom Advisor to the President Duminda Hulangamuwa is affiliated.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
Remanded till April 3: CID granted permission to visit the prison and record statement from Deshabandu
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
The Matara Magistrate’s Court yesterday (20th) ordered that suspended IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon be held in remand custody until April 3. Suspended IGP Tennakoon, who was ordered to be arrested on sight, appeared before the Matara Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday (19th) and was subsequently remanded until Thursday (20th). While lawyers representing Tennakoon requested bail, Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, representing the Attorney General (AG), strongly opposed the request.
It is reported further that the [suspended] IGP was transferred from the Angunukolapalassa Prison where he was previously held in remand custody to the Ududumbara Prison. The papers add that the CID has been granted permission to visit Tennakoon and record a statement regarding the ongoing investigation.
LG elections to be held on May 6 after seven years
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
The Election Commission (EC) announced yesterday (20th) that the Local Government (LG) elections are scheduled to be held on May 6. Papers highlight that the LG elections are being held after seven years. Issuing a statement, the EC yesterday (20th) stated that 107 registered political parties and 49 independent groups have submitted their nominations. Additionally, the EC stated that the names of candidates in the upcoming LG elections will be announced through a gazette notification within the next week.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Final budget vote to take place today – Lankadeepa, Ada, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
2. “The Mendis Company has funded a group of SJB MPs amidst the bond scam” – Wasantha Samarasinghe – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Dinamina, Thamilan
3. Keheliya’s request to lift the ban on bank account rejected – Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Anidda, Thinakaran
4. “Sri Lanka Cricket has made a decision to make Deshabandu its security advisor; a monthly allowance of Rs. 150,000; communication allowance, a laptop and a health insurance [to also be given]” – MP Hesha Withanage – Anidda, Thamilan
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