27 February 2025 | Vol. 11, #35

DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS

Virakesari: The Election Commission urgently convenes today to finalise the date for nominations; possibility of conducting the election in the first week of May | Ranil [Wickremesinghe] leaves for India today; will meet Indian Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi | Photograph: Minister Vijitha Herath meeting Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of the UK Lord Collins of Highbury, in Geneva

Thinakaran: Aircraft purchase scam: MP Namal MP records statements for five hours in CID | “Happy to support the government’s excellent projects; should not act like we are against everything” – Selvam Adaikkalanathan | “Sri Lanka will commit to working towards impartial human rights” – Minister Vijitha Herath at the UN General Assembly (sic)

Thinakkural: Attempt to murder the mother and wife of the mastermind to take revenge for Ganemulla Sanjeewa’s murder? | Despite increased security, revenge attacks continue; there are great fears that the killings will continue; an assassination attempt was made yesterday too

Thamilan: Political appointments in the diplomatic service; only two of the nine newly appointed are in the foreign service

Lankadeepa: Cannot extradite Arjuna Mahendran: A strict verdict from Singapore | STF protection for the courts | Attempts to sell milk powder brought for animals to humans; businessperson imprisoned for four months

Divaina: Shots fired in Paththanduwana demanding one victim after another; Padme’s school friend that was shot hospitalised | Milk powder brought for the consumption of animals fed to humans; animal feed supplier imprisoned for four months | Investigations into the calls placed to prison and STF officers that brought Sanjeewa to the court

Ada: The murder of Ganemulla Sanjeewa: Ishara has formulated the murder plan from her house in
Negombo; the arrested constable had been aware of the plan – CCD informed the court; Ishara’s younger brother and mother placed in remand custody; statements recorded from 15 prison officers; constable who was arrested from Athurugiriya is related to Julampitiye Amare; a school friend of Kehelbaddara Padme shot in Minuwangoda: Suspicions that the shooting was carried out by Sanjeewa’s party; the pair that was caught videotaping Kehelbaddara Padme’s house detained and questioned; a firearm also found based on information received from the suspects

Mawbima: Ganemulla Sanjeewa’s gang in pursuit of people closely connected to Padme: Individual injured in Minuwangoda following failed murder attempt | Saman Rathnapriya calls the nurses’ battle; Ven. Muruththetuwe Thera to not participate in the protest; We trust the government – All Ceylon Nurses’ Union

Dinamina: The Airbus deal: Namal questioned for five hours; “Stop political revenge and find solutions for the issues” – Namal Rajapaksa | “The government is committed to protecting the human rights of all citizens” – Minister Vijitha states at the UNHRC session | The first vehicle consignment from Japan to arrive in Hambantota today

Aruna: A 15% tax for Facebook and Youtube | Sarwajana Balaya states that Undiyal transactions will increase | A parrots locates a thief for the police

Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only

TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES

Seven Tamil parties agree to contest jointly | “No alliance with other parties; will join to establish governance after election” – M.A. Sumanthiran

Virakesari, Thinakkural

Virakesari, Thinakkural: Spokesperson of the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) Suresh Premachandran claimed that seven Tamil political parties have agreed so far to jointly contest in the upcoming local government election. He added that they expect to form a massive alliance across the North and East, and that discussions are underway with other parties as well.

Thinakkural: Acting General Secretary of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) M.A. Sumanthiran claimed that as his party had already decided, it will contest in the upcoming local government election separately, and later [local] governments can be formed jointly [with other parties]. He noted that though the power of the central government is given in the hands of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the local authorities should be in their hands (Tamil parties).

The Election Commission urgently convenes today to finalise the date for nominations; possibility of conducting the election in the first week of May

Virakesari

The Election Commission urgently convenes today (27th) to discuss and finalise the date for filing
nominations and to decide on the date of the election. It is expected that the decision would be announced today or next week. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Elections Achchuthan Sivasubramaniam stated that the Election Commission considers holding the election by June 2, and that there is a possibility to conduct it in the first week of May.

SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES

“The UNHRC follows double standards” – Former president Wickremesinghe states

Lankadeepa, Dinamina

Former president Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that the United Nations Human Rights Council treats Ukraine and Sri Lanka differently and follows double standards in the treatment of the two countries. The former president also pointed out that the current government as well as other political parties should consider this matter seriously. Wickremesinghe made the statement when he met with a group of young lawyers at his office in Colombo yesterday (26th).

Milk powder brought for the consumption of animals fed to humans; animal feed supplier imprisoned for four months

Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina

An animal feed supplier in Kuliyapitiya was imprisoned for four months over using false information, repackaging and releasing a stock of milk powder issued for animal feed to the market for human consumption. He was sentenced to four months imprisonment with hard labour and was also ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 10,000. A stock of 160 metric tons of milk powder in the possession of the businessperson was also ordered to be destroyed under the supervision of the court.

COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS