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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: Volker Türk visits Chemmani mass grave; pays tribute at the ‘Unextinguishable Flame’ | “I will take note of your tears” – Volker Türk assures in Trincomalee | A meaningful process for accountability is essential – Northern civil society urges the high commissioner; a petition also handed over to him Thinakaran: Volker Türk listens to grievances at the Chemmani protest site; pays tribute at the mass grave site | A 16-member task force appointed to eliminate ragging | “Pressure in various sectors due to the Middle East situation” – Cabinet spokesperson |
Thinakkural: “The Tamil issue should not be diluted due to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East; I came in person for that” – UN commissioner tells Tamil parties in Jaffna | UN high commissioner for human rights says he will speak to the president for justice mechanism for disappeared people – saying that he feels that Tamil people have problems in Sri Lanka | Accountability for human rights violations is essential, insists North-East Coordinating Committee Thamilan: UN Commissioner Volker visits North and East; analyses Chemmani tragedy firsthand!; he also listens to views of affected people |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Container backlog returns at ports: Customs yet to utilise land allocated by port authorities; high volume of containers causing delays, says Customs | Court case book damaged; now stored in safe; may be handed over to CID and government analyst if necessary Divaina: Former land officer sentenced to 22 years over Rs. 100,000 bribe; loses pension, fined Rs. 30,000 Ada: Ban on child begging enforced; stricter laws on street vending and domestic work for children from July 1; children make up 30% of population |
Mawbima: The annual bus fare reduction to be 2.5%; minimum fare remains unchanged; Rs. 54 is the highest reduction; bus operators agree | Doctors are reportedly receiving threats, says Jayatissa citing intelligence sources Dinamina: Bus fares reduced from July 1; NTC approves Aruna: Former land officer sentenced to 22 years for Rs. 100,000 bribe; Colombo High Court imposes fine Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Tamil Guardian
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk visits Trincomalee; “I will speak to the president for justice mechanism for disappeared people”
Thinakkural, Thamilan, Virakesari, Thinakaran
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk paid a visit to Trincomalee and engaged in discussions with civil society organisations, relatives of the disappeared, lawyers and others yesterday (25th). Listening to grievances and views, Türk claimed that he would discuss regarding the need for a justice mechanism for the matter of disappearances. He noted that he feels that there are problems for the Tamils in Sri Lanka and that they should be addressed together with the government.
“The Tamil issue should not be diluted due to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East; I came in person for that” – UN commissioner tells Tamil parties in Jaffna | Civil society groups hand over letter to Volker urging accountability as essential
Thinakkural, Virakesari United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk met Tamil MPs in Jaffna yesterday (25th) and discussed matters including current affairs, accountability, human rights and political solutions. Virakesari quotes him as saying that the matter of Sri Lanka could be diluted because of the crisis that prevails in the Middle East. Thinakkural highlights him as saying that he has visited Sri Lanka directly to prevent the matter of Sri Lanka being diluted at the upcoming UNHRC session. Meanwhile, civil society groups in the North and East collectively handed over a letter to Volker Türk urging that accountability should be ensured on the human rights violations. |
Funds received; Chemmani mass grave exhumation to resume today
Thinakkural The Jaffna Magistrate’s Court was informed that allocated funds have been received for the second phase of the Chemmani mass grave exhumation. Accordingly, the exhumation will resume today (26th).
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Statue of Chelvanayakam vandalised in Mannar
Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Virakesari
The statue of S.J.V. Chelvanayakam which is situated in the Mannar town was vandalised in the early hours of yesterday (25th). Following the incident, the ITAK members lodged a police complaint. The police have arrested an individual on suspicion in this regard
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Mawbima
Upuldeniya further remanded
Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Aruna, Divaina, Ada
Former Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya was further remanded until July 9 by the Colombo chief magistrate. He is accused of fabricating an official document falsely stating that 37 inmates received presidential pardons, although only 36 were legally approved. During court proceedings it was revealed that a convicted murderer, the wife of former Minister Milroy Fernando, who should not have been eligible for amnesty was also released under the pardon list of Upuldeniya.
“Political group sabotaging
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Mahindananda-backed independent group takes control in Nawalapitiya
Mawbima, Divaina An independent group assumed control of the Nawalapitiya Urban Council following its inaugural meeting yesterday (25th). Former chairperson Amal Priyankara, representing Independent Group 02, was re-elected with nine votes, while K. Sureshwaran of Independent Group 01 was elected deputy chairperson with the same number of votes. The independent group is reportedly backed by convicted former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage. |
“Opposition failed due to overestimation” – Karunanayake
Dinamina
Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake said the Opposition failed to secure as much power in local government institutions as they expected, blaming it on an overestimation of their political strength. Speaking at a media conference in Colombo yesterday (25th), he criticised the Opposition’s poor coordination, and noted ongoing scrutiny of the Colombo Municipal Council’s legality. Karunanayake also accused the United National Party of excluding him despite its calls for unity.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Tamil Guardian
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk visits Chemmani mass grave; three politicians who went to the protest site turned away
Mawbima, Aruna, Divaina, Thinakkural, Thamilan, Virakesari, Thinakaran
Aruna, Mawbima and Divaina report that Minister of Fisheries Ramalingam Chandrasekhar, along with other political figures including NPP MP Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy and ITAK’s C.V.K. Sivagnanam, faced public backlash and were forced to leave the protest site near the Chemmani mass grave.
Aruna focuses on the protesters’ demands for justice, and includes a statement from the minister affirming his support for the protest and his lack of hostility towards those who confronted him.
Mawbima emphasises the concurrent visit of UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk, highlighting his interactions with protesters and victims’ families.
The Tamil newspapers report that Türk visited Chemmani, paid tribute at the
‘Unextinguishable Flame’ and listened to the grievances of the affected people. He also observed the Chemmani mass grave site where human skeletons were recovered. The newspapers also report that the three politicians were forced to leave the Chemmani site.
Thinakaran quotes Chandrasekhar as saying that he extends his support to the vigil protest, adding that certain groups attempt to use the protest seeking justice for their political gain, which cannot be accepted.
Iran-Israel conflict ends with ceasefire
Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Aruna, Divaina, Ada, Virakesari, Thinakaran
Citing foreign media, several newspapers report that a ceasefire had been agreed upon on the 24th, with the Iranian government officially announcing the end of the conflict. Photographs show Iranians taking to the streets in Tehran and other cities to celebrate the end of the 12-day war between Iran and Israel. The reports also note U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that a regime change in Iran is unnecessary. Additionally, it is reported that Iran has severed ties with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Dinamina and Ada also report that a Cabinet Sub-Committee chaired by Minister Vijitha Herath met on Tuesday (24th) to assess the potential impact of the Middle East conflict on Sri Lanka’s economy, particularly in relation to trade, foreign employment, tourism and foreign reserves.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Bus fares reduced from July 1; NTC approves – Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Aruna, Divaina, Ada, Thinakkural
2. Middeniya double murder linked to drug dispute; contract ordered by Dubai Lahiru – Mawbima, Ada, Divaina, Aruna, Thamilan
3. Tennakoon’s case concludes with testimony from seven of 15 prepared witnesses at investigation committee hearing – Aruna, Divaina, Ada, Thamilan
4. Container backlog returns at ports: High volume of containers causing delays, says Customs – Lankadeepa, Aruna, Virakesari
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