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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: “Finding a solution is a challenge for the government; truth-telling will heal the wounds; Chemmani is a reminder that the past haunts; repeal the PTA; investigations on Easter attacks need to be advanced; ensure access to lands and increase wage of plantations workers; Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act needs to be amended” – Volker Türk | Photograph: Volker Türk calls on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake Thinakaran: “With the support of international experts who can find the truth, solutions to the suffering of the families of the disappeared soon” – UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk |
Thinakkural: “Sri Lankan government should establish a domestic mechanism in line with international standards for human rights violations; we continue to insist on accountability” – UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk, at a special press conference in Colombo | Three skeletons including a skull of an infant found; exhumation to continue for 45 days | “Support of international experts is essential for Chemmani” – UN human rights commissioner | “UN will respond soon on the six demands” – Volker Türk Thamilan: “Repeal the PTA! Online Safety Act also needs to be repealed” – UN commissioner for human rights urges the Government of Sri Lanka | Sudden transfers for prison officials | Arrested Chandragupta remanded |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Allegations that Rs. 90 million was illegally acquired during four-year tenure as minister: CIABOC files cases against the entire Keheliya family; wife, the three daughters and the son-in-law also included | “Repeal the PTA and the Online Safety Act” – UN human rights commissioner urges | Photograph: President meets the UN human rights commissioner Divaina: Indictments: CIABOC files cases against Keheliya’s entire family under 43 allegations | AG files cases against 12, including Keheliya, over spending Rs. 140 million to import substandard vaccines; former President Ranil and four former ministers also included in the witness list Ada: Cases filed against Keheliya and the whole family for illegally acquiring Rs. 90 million during four-year tenure | Cases filed before the HC against 12, including Keheliya, for committing Rs. 140 million fraud when purchasing substandard antidote vaccines | Former Health Secretary Janaka Chandragupta remanded for illegally acquiring assets |
Mawbima: Former Health Secretary Janaka Chandragupta remanded over undervaluing illegally acquired assets | 26 students in a school in Gokarella hospitalised after consuming toxic toffees; the doctor who attended to the patients is also showing symptoms; the shop that sold the toffees sealed Dinamina: A follower of Harak Kata, Midigama Lasa who is an underworld criminal, has also been nominated for the chairpersonship of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha; he has also run in the election under the UNP in 2018 | Cases filed against Keheliya’s whole family; they do not know how the assets were acquired |Substandard medicine case: Ranil, Nimal, Douglas, Wijeyadasa and Roshan called to testify Aruna: Group of officials including Keheliya indicted; another case against Keheliya and his family Anidda: No agreement within the NPP over the national list MP seat: discussions to continue; alternative recommendations also made |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Tamil Guardian
Three skeletons including a skull of an infant found at Chemmani; exhumation to continue for 45 days
Thinakkural
Speaking to the media on the progress of the exhumation of the Chemmani mass grave, Attorney V.S. Niranjan claimed that three more skeletons were found at the Chemmani mass grave site yesterday (26th) when the second phase of the exhumation commenced. He added that 22 skeletons have been found at the site so far. He further added that funds for the process have been allocated but the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court has not received it yet – expected to receive on Monday, and that the exhumation has been commenced based on the promise.
“Why is the agreement [signed] with India covered up; is there an
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“The [fisheries] jetty cannot be given to the majority community; leave from the forcibly grabbed lands of the
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“LTTE’s weapons were not brought to the country” – Sarath Fonseka
Thinakaran
Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka claimed that the reports that the weapons of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were brought into the country recently are nonsense. He added that recently MP Archchuna Ramanathan had stated that 323 containers released from the Colombo Port without any checks contained LTTE weapons. Fonseka criticised Archchuna’s comments as wrong and stupid.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: AsianMirror
Allegations that Rs. 90 million was illegally acquired during four-year tenure as minister: CIABOC files cases against the entire Keheliya family; wife, the three daughters and the son-in-law also included
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Aruna, Ada
Indictments were served before the Colombo High Court (HC) on former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, his wife, three daughters and son-in-law. The indictments were served by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) under 43 charges. Former Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella, his wife Kusum Priyadarshini Epa and four other family members were previously arrested by the CIABOC in connection with an investigation conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. They were subsequently released on bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. The allegations claim that Rambukwella had illegally acquired a sum of Rs. 90 million during his tenure as the minister of health.
Cabraal’s bond case to be called in October
Divaina, Dinamina The Colombo High Court yesterday (26th) ordered that the case against former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri lanka (CBSL) Ajith Nivard Cabraal and four others be postponed to October 10. The defendants have been accused of causing a financial loss exceeding Rs. 1.8 billion to the Sri Lankan government by investing public funds in Greek government bonds in 2012. Three revision petitions have been filed by the defence before the Court of Appeal challenging the rejection of preliminary objections in the case.
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No agreement within the NPP over the national list MP seat: discussions to continue; alternative recommendations also made
Anidda Anidda reports that the NPP has not yet been able to make a decision on whom to appoint for the MP seat vacated due to the resignation of Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma. According to media reports, Suriyapperuma’s resignation came ahead of his expected appointment as the secretary of the Ministry of Finance. Accordingly, while the NPP has to appoint another MP for the seat, it is reported that it has not been able to agree on the national list nomination. Several alternative names have also been nominated for the position. |
79 individuals have died while in police custody since March 2020
Anidda
According to the complaints received by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), 79 of the individuals who had been in police custody since the year 2020 up until March 2025 have been reported to have died. HRCSL Commissioner Nimal Punchihewa stated that 49 had died while in police custody and 30 others had died while attempting to prevent fights while in police custody.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
“Repeal the PTA and the Online Safety Act” – UN human rights commissioner urges
Lankadeepa, Mawbima, Anidda, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk yesterday (26th) called for the repeal of Sri Lanka’s Online Safety Act and a moratorium on the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). During his visit to Sri Lanka, he also urged the expedited review and release of long-term PTA detainees, expressed support for decriminalising same-sex relations, and called for police reforms. Türk visited several areas across Sri Lanka engaging with officials, political leaders and civil society representatives. While the Sinhala press highlights the PTA and the Online Safety Act, the Tamil Press highlighted several other key issues the commissioner had spoken about. Türk visited the recently re-opened mass grave at Chemmani and stated that it was a compelling reminder that the past haunts the lives of many in Sri Lanka. He added that he was very grateful for the access granted to see the grave. Volker Türk further added that investigations on the Easter Sunday attacks need to be advanced. He also spoke on several issues including ensuring access to lands, increasing wages for plantation workers and on how the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act needs to be amended. He stated further that with the support of international experts who can find the truth, solutions to the suffering of the families of the disappeared can be achieved soon. He also suggested that the Sri Lankan government establish a domestic mechanism in line with international standards for human rights violations.
Keheliya and 12 others are charged with severe accusations over the immunoglobulin case
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
The Attorney General (AG) yesterday (26th) served indictments before the Colombo High Court Special Trial-at-Bar on former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and 11 others over allegedly importing substandard human immunoglobulin vials. The indictment consists of a total of 13 charges. In 2022, a number of high-ranking health officials were allegedly involved in the purchase of medicine stocks by changing existing procurement procedures and creating a false shortage of drugs in the country. As a result, three patients in Kandy, Matale and Colombo who had used human immunoglobulin vaccines, one of the types of medicines purchased as part of the above-mentioned medicine stocks, had developed complications, raising concerns about the quality of the medicine.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Former Health Secretary Janaka Chandragupta remanded for illegally acquiring assets – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Aruna, Dinamina, Ada, Virakesari, Thamilan
2. Transfers given to 32 prison chiefs including nine DIGs – Divaina, Aruna, Ada, Thamilan
3. A torture chamber of Pillayan found in Welikanda: CID to investigate – Dinamina, Thamilan, Thinakaran
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