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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: USD 1 billion compensation ordered; Supreme Court rules in the X-Press Pearl Thinakaran: “13 years of compulsory education for all students; proposed education reforms will uplift social and economic fabric; not a single student in 98 schools” – President |
Thinakkural: Several government departments are trying to grab lands at 10 locations in Verugal, Thamilan: “Social restructuring through education; educational burden on children” – President concerned | New education reforms: abolition of term exams, introduction of modular system | Skeletons continue to be excavated in Chemmani; three sets identified yesterday |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Inmate who received the presidential pardon sentenced to seven years in prison over committing fraud of Rs. 3.5 million against a doctor; 22 other cases as well; Rs. 500 million also stolen | The fire aboard the X-Press Pearl: Shipping company ordered to pay USD 1 billion in compensation Divaina: X-Press Pearl ordered to pay USD 1 billion in compensation for the damage caused to Sri Lanka’s coastline Ada: X-Press Pearl to pay compensation of USD 1 billion; full amount to be paid within a year |
Mawbima: X-Press Pearl to pay compensation of USD 1 billion within one year; suspicions of bribery behind accepting the singed ship to the harbour | A new investigation on the power outage caused by a monkey attack – PUCSL states Dinamina: Verdict on the X-Press Pearl vessel issued: company ordered to pay USD 1 billion in compensation to Sri Lanka Aruna: The X-Press Pear incident: company ordered to pay USD 1 billion in compensation; Nalaka Godahewa and the former AG have violated fundamental human rights Anidda: Army intelligence units knew that the murder of the Vavunathivu police officers was carried out by Zahran |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Newsfirst.lk
“Ranil was in the Cabinet that created Black July” – Bimal Rathnayake
Thinakkural, Virakesari
Addressing parliament yesterday (24th), Leader of the House Minister Bimal Rathnayake stated that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe is the only remaining member of the Cabinet that was responsible for burning the Jaffna Library and creating the Black July riots. He asserted that the 1981 White Paper on Education introduced by Wickremesinghe had a sinister purpose. He alleged that individuals like Wickremesinghe, who introduced such programmes, were the ones who set fire to the Jaffna Library and orchestrated Black July.
Several government departments are trying to grab lands at 10
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“Special attention on land release in the North; action to release 2,000 hectares of land in Mannar” – Deputy Minister Susil
Thinakaran, Thamilan Deputy Minister of Lands and Irrigation Susil Ranasinghe claimed that significant attention is being given to releasing large tracts of land in the Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Mannar Districts. Speaking in parliament yesterday (24th) in response to a question from Vanni District MP Masthan, the deputy minister specified that the focus is on releasing 54,000 acres in Mullaitivu, 24,000 acres in Vavuniya and over 2,000 hectares in Mannar. He |
Rally at Nallur Kittu Park for the release of Tamil political prisoners
Virakesari, Thinakkural
The Voice for the Voiceless organisation launched a two-day protest rally in Nallur, Jaffna yesterday (24th) under the theme ‘Viduthalai’ (Liberation). The event was organised to commemorate Tamil political prisoners who were killed in prison and to demand the release of those still detained. The rally began with a peaceful procession from the Nallur Sankiliyan Arch to Kittu Park, where several events were held. These included the launch of the book ’Thuruverum Kaivilangu’ (Rusting Handcuffs) by a former political prisoner, an exhibition depicting prison life and the release of a documentary compilation.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Hiru News
SJB establishes power in the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna
Due to several crises that continuously arose, the election to appoint the chairperson of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha, which had been postponed, was held yesterday (24th) morning. At this vote, the main opposition group led by the SJB obtained 23 votes, while the NPP received 22 votes. As the SJB opposition secured one vote more than the NPP, the position of chairperson was won by them.
A new investigation on the power outage caused by a monkey attack – PUCSL states
Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Aruna The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has determined that the investigation report submitted by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) regarding the islandwide power outage (reportedly caused by a monkey attack) on February 9 is inadequate. Hence, the PUCSL has decided to hold an evidence examination regarding the power outage. Accordingly, this evidence examination is scheduled to be held on August 5 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall. |
Army intelligence units knew that the murder of the Vavunathivu police officers was carried out by Zahran
Anidda A report that was presented to the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) states that the intelligence units of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) knew that the murder of two police officers in Vavunathivu was committed by Zahran Hasheem and his group in 2018, before the Easter Sunday attack took place in April 2019. The report further reads that the SLA had concealed this information even though it had received it from a credible informant. |
Rs. 1,250 million to Sri Lanka from the World Food Programme
Dinamina
Sri Lanka has received Rs. 1,250 million in development assistance from the World Food Programme, which operates in affiliation with the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment. To observe the development programmes implemented through the Matale District Secretariat under this initiative, Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Dr. Upali Pannilage, Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Gamagedara Dissanayake, the Sri Lanka representative of the World Food Programme and a group of officials recently undertook a tour of the Matale District.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Daily Mirror
The fire aboard the X-Press Pearl: Shipping company ordered to pay USD 1 billion in compensation
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
The Supreme Court (SC) of Sri Lanka yesterday (24th) ordered the shipping company that owns the X-Press Pearl vessel to pay USD 1 billion in compensation for the environmental and economic damage caused by the fire aboard the X-Press Pearl vessel. The X-Press Pearl caught fire and later sank off the coast of Colombo in 2021 in what is considered one of the worst environmental disasters in Sri Lanka’s history. The SC ordered that the compensation be paid to the secretary of the Treasury. The order states further that the respondents are required to make the payment of USD1 billion within one year from the date of the judgement, with the option to pay in instalments. Additionally, the SC delivering the judgement stated that Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, who was serving at the time as the state minister in charge of the subject, and the then chairperson of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) violated fundamental rights in relation to the manner in which actions were taken concerning the fire incident of the relevant vessel.
“A 13-year education is compulsory; we will reduce the burden of education placed on children” – President says in parliament
Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake speaking in parliament yesterday (24th) stated that the proposed education reforms are not merely limited to curriculum revision but will elevate both the social and economic spheres of the country. Dissanayake requested the support of parliament for this initiative, emphasising that it is a social objective, not a political one. He further stressed that no child should leave school without completing 13 years of compulsory education. The president added – while participating in yesterday’s (24th) parliamentary debate on education reforms – that it is the responsibility of the government to reduce the overwhelming educational burden placed on the children. He added that some children are so exhausted that they sleep even after waking up, in the vehicle and then again at school. The president stressed that while every child receives a foundational education in subjects like geography, sociology, religion and history, the country must go further to foster specialised knowledge that builds upon these basics. He further added that a clear, well-structured path must be made available for this purpose. He noted that some schools need to be closed down, others should be amalgamated and new schools need to be established in certain areas.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Excavation of skeletons in Chemmani continues; 88 identified; 76 fully exhumed | A milk bottle found in the Chemmani mass grave – Anidda, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
2. Son-in-law of Rohitha Abeygunawardena remanded – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Anidda, Virakesari
3. The debate to dismiss the IGP to be held on August 5 – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Thamilan
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