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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: Cardinal has no connection; Colombo Archbishop’s House issues statement regarding Nilantha Jayawardena’s removal, Shani and Ravi’s appointments | Consider becoming a party to the Rome Statute – HRCSL proposes its recommendation Thinakaran: “The government aims to accelerate efforts to integrate Sri Lanka into the global economy through sustainable growth; Sri Lanka has achieved a level of economic stability under the present administration” – President Dissanayake at a meeting with IMF representatives | Government revenue increases by 19.95 per cent in five months | International award winner Nadisha Chandrasena meets the Prime Minister |
Thinakkural: Exhumation at the Chemmani mass grave resumes; 7 skeletons found; investigations transferred from police to CID | Danger to Valikamam North due to the gazette issued in 2013 Thamilan: Criminal case against Nilantha; the Catholic Church urges | Exhumation at the Chemmani mass grave resumes; 7 skeletons found yesterday | DIG Gayantha Marapana files a petition in the Court regarding being assigned to work under junior officers |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Carrom board incident: Another case filed against Mahindananda and Nalin by the Attorney General, accusing them of causing a loss of 40 million | Indictment handed over Divaina: Indictment on Nalin, Mahindananda and the former secretary of the Ministry of Sports for causing a loss of 30 million to the government by distributing carrom and checkers boards | The hired hitman from Kahawatta nabbed in Kiribathgoda Ada: It is not the Catholic Church’s opinion that Nilantha should be given the death penalty | The Cardinal did not specifically call for the re-appointment of CID Chief Shani Abeysekara, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Ravi Seneviratne and the army commander – Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando |
Mawbima: IUSF cracks into two? A new ‘Anthare’ from the coalition of the country’s main university student movements Dinamina: Full support of the IMF to stabilise the Sri Lankan economy – The IMF representatives say, while meeting with the President Aruna: The university student who attempted to save her boyfriend drowns in the Viyana canal | The boyfriend falls into the stream while walking on the dam | The boyfriend saved by a police officer Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Tamil Guardian
Exhumation at the Chemmani mass grave resumes; 7 skeletons found; investigations transferred from police to CID
Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thamilan
Seven human skeletal remains were identified yesterday (21st) from two pits at the mass graves in the Chemmani area of Ariyalai, Jaffna.
This discovery brings the total number of skeletal remains unearthed from the site to 72.
The excavation, which resumed after an 11-day suspension, was conducted in the presence of Jaffna Magistrate A.A. Anandarajah and Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Sellaiya Pranavan.
Following an order from the Acting Inspector General of Police, the investigation into the mass graves has been transferred from the Jaffna Police to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Accordingly, CID officials were present at the excavation site yesterday.
Consider becoming a party to the Rome Statute – HRCSL proposes its recommendation
Thinakkural, Virakesari The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has urged the government to provide adequate financial, expert, and technical facilities for the proper preservation of evidence from mass graves and effective investigations. The HRCSL has also recommended that the government consider signing the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which classifies widespread enforced disappearances as a crime against humanity. This report was issued ahead of the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances’ review of Sri Lanka’s compliance with the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, scheduled from September 22 to October 3. |
“There won’t be any election in the upcoming years” – Saman Sri Ratnayake
Thinakaran Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake has stated that (sic) “no elections will be held in the country in the upcoming years.” He made this remark during a discussion with party leaders at the Kurunegala District Election Office regarding the preparation of the Election Secretariat’s strategic plan for the 2026-2029 period. Ratnayake also announced that there are plans to make voting mandatory for registered voters and to impose a fine on those who fail to vote. He noted that this decision was made to achieve maximum results from the high cost incurred for each election. Furthermore, he mentioned that there is an expectation to increase the deposit amount for elections in the future. |
“There won’t be a full constitutional reform” – Ajith P. Perera
Thinakkural
SJB MP Ajith P. Perera has accused the government of attempting to introduce a limited constitutional reform instead of a complete overhaul.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday (21st), he claimed that this move is aimed at reducing the powers of the independent commissions and the Constitutional Council.
Perera stated that while the president promised a new constitution and the abolition of the executive presidency, he has not taken any steps towards this, a year after taking office.
He argued that any effort to curtail the powers of independent commissions is a reversal of election promises and a violation of the people’s mandate.
The MP urged the government to proceed with a full constitutional reform as pledged to the people.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Lankadeepa
The university student who attempted to save her boyfriend drowns in the Viyana canal
Aruna, Divaina, Lankadeepa, Mawbima
The body of the 26-year-old Rajarata University student, who went missing after drowning while trying to save her boyfriend, has been found in the Viyana canal near the 17th post of the Mahiyanganaya Police Division early yesterday.
The incident had occurred on the 20th while the young couple had been walking on the canal bank when the young man slipped and fell into the water due to the strong current.
At that juncture, the young woman tried to save him by reaching out her hand, but both ended up falling into the canal, according to police.
An officer from the Mahiyanganaya Police Training School and his wife, who were passing by, immediately jumped into the canal and managed to rescue the young man, but were unable to locate the young woman.
Rift in IUSF leadership?
Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Ada A major rift has emerged within the country’s main university student movement, as a newly-formed faction claiming to represent the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) declared itself an “independent and representative” body, distancing itself from what it described as “years of political manipulation.” Addressing a press conference, the group’s convenor, Sasindu Perera, asserted that the newly-formed IUSF has the backing of student councils from multiple universities and would operate free from partisan influence. However, Madushan Indrajith stated that no new appointments have been made to the Inter-University Students’ Federation operating within the universities these days, and that he still remains the convener of the federation. Furthermore, he stated that the IUSF held a discussion with the Ministry of Education yesterday regarding the new education reforms and its problems. |
Travel ban imposed on MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena’s daughter and son-in-law
Divaina, Dinamina A travel ban has been imposed on the daughter and the son-in-law of New Democratic Front (NDF) MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena, based on a request made by the Walana Anti-Vice Unit yesterday. Accordingly, the order was issued by the Matugama Magistrate’s Court. The order was issued in connection with the discovery of an illegally assembled vehicle in Matugama. |
Grade 5 scholarship exam set for August 10
Lankadeepa, Dinamina, Ada
The 2025 Grade 5 scholarship examination will be held on August 10, according to the Department of Examinations.
The test will take place at 2,787 centres islandwide.
Paper II is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., followed by Paper I from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
The department has allowed corrections to candidate information from July 25 to August 4.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
Discussions between the President and the IMF delegation | Continued support to stabilise the Sri Lankan economy
Divaina, Mawbima, Ada, Thamilan, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) held discussions, yesterday (21), regarding the future review of the Extended Fund Facility between the IMF and Sri Lanka.
President Dissanayake noted that Sri Lanka has achieved a level of economic stability under the present administration and emphasised that, building on this foundation, the government is prepared to accelerate efforts to integrate Sri Lanka into the global economy through sustainable growth and the pursuit of emerging economic opportunities.
The President expressed his gratitude for the support extended to Sri Lanka by the IMF so far and emphasised that he is committed to ensuring that all the benefits of the country’s economic growth are delivered to the people.
The representatives of the International Monetary Fund, commending the commitment of the government under the leadership of the President to advancing Sri Lanka’s economic progress, had also agreed to extend the necessary support to maintain economic stability and further Sri Lanka’s global advancement.
Indictment served on Nalin, Mahindananda and the former secretary of the Ministry of Sports for causing a loss of 30 million to the government by distributing carrom and checkers boards
Aruna, Divaina, Lankadeepa, Dinamina, Mawbima, Ada, Thinakaran, Virakesari, Thamilan
Former ministers Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Nalin Fernando, both currently serving prison sentences, along with former Sports Ministry Secretary, retired Major General Nanda Mallawarachchi, who is also serving a prison sentence, were indicted yesterday (21) at the Colombo High Court.
They are currently serving prison sentences after being accused of committing an offense under the Public Property Act by importing carrom boards and checkers boards through the Lanka Sathosa Company during the 2014 presidential election and distributing them to sports associations with the aim of gaining political advantage.
Following the indictment, Colombo High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne ordered the release of the three defendants on bail.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Cardinal has no connection; Colombo Archbishop’s House issues statement regarding Nilantha Jayawardena’s removal, Shani Abeysekara and Ravi Seneviratne’s appointments – Aruna, Dinamina, Ada, Virakesari, Thamilan
2. The state-sponsored final rites of the late Asgiriya Anunayake Thera on the 24th in Kandy – Aruna, Divaina, Lankadeepa, Dinamina, Mawbima, Ada, Thinakaran
3. Sri Lanka to procure crude oil from the US – Aruna, Divaina, Thanikkural
4. The government revenue for the first 5 months of the year has gone up by 19.95% – Divaina, Dinamina, Thinakaran
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