[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”5196.5px” custom_margin=”||-277px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”5208.5px” custom_margin=”-36px|auto|-567px|auto||” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”5074px” custom_padding=”0px||30px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]
DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
|
Virakesari: “How did the President know what I told the commission?” – Former President Ranil questions Bribery Commission officers | “Prove the allegations” – SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam | Bomb scare at Russian Embassy in Colombo: Security forces deployed for search operation | Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe records three-hour statement at Bribery Commission | CA dismisses Prasanna Ranaweera’s writ petition | Five sentenced to death, two given life imprisonment for murder of Mattakkuliya youth | “No statement has been taken from me regarding the incident” – Maithripala Sirisena testifies in attempted murder case against him Thinakaran: Former Uva Province Chief Secretary arrested for 2021 Chinese fertiliser import scam – Bribery Commission steps in | “Three former ministers to be arrested soon” – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake | Senior journalist P. Krishnasamy passes away | Presidential Secretariat informs five former presidents to return extra vehicles by the deadline | Postal voting ends today | New Pope to be elected; Official ceremony begins on May 7: Vatican announces | 331 people arrested with drugs in special operation | Protest demanding justice for Sivaram and Rajeev Varman’s commemoration |
Thinakkural: Bomb threat at Russian Embassy? Laptop sparks major stir | “How did the President know what I told the commission?” – Former President Ranil questions CIABOC investigators: expresses doubt over justice in investigation | “Ranil and Sajith have a chance to become President in another world” – PM Harini says this government will not fall | “Since we fought against the LTTE, fighting this government is no big deal for us” – Udaya Gammanpila | “Two years for Gota, six months for JVP” – Sumanthiran | Ex-President Chandrika [Bandaranaike Kumaratunga] lodged a complaint Thamilan: “One-third of the people are poor, says World Bank” – Opposition Leader Sajith [Premadasa] accuses government for lying about economic progress | Prasanna Ranaweera’s writ petition rejected | Chandrika files complaint over campaigning without official permission | 606 tons of waste pile up in Kandy city – Crisis in disposal operations | Today set as a special day for ballot card distribution |
Sinhala Headlines
|
Lankadeepa: Rs. 1.3 billion paid for a fertiliser consignment that never arrived: Uva Province Chief Secretary remanded; “the former minister and officials will be brought to court” – CIABOC | Sri Lanka gets in the way of two proposals from India; “We will not allow proposals that harm the country; no need for the Rameshwaram – Colombo bridge and the Mannar – Trincomalee highway” (Sic.) – Vijitha Herath Divaina: Former Additional Secretary of the State Ministry of Agriculture remanded over a substandard fertiliser incident during Gotabaya’s tenure Ada: Former Additional Secretary of Agriculture remanded over the incident concerning the Chinese fertiliser consignment; allegations that the government incurred a loss of Rs. 6.9 million by his issuance of orders to reopen the halted letters of credit; revelations that the suspect is working as the Secretary of the Uva Province |
Mawbima: CIABOC reveals investigations into the Chinese fertiliser consignment; former Additional Secretary of Agriculture (Mahesh) Gammanpila, remanded | Government service election candidates have illegally taken the April salary – A complaint from the Ceylon Teachers’ Union; “institution heads must be held accountable if salaries were paid” – Commissioner General of Elections Dinamina: The Chinese garbage fertiliser ship incident: Former Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture remanded | Rs. 52.9 million has been spent on Urumaya deed distributing ceremonies during Ranil’s tenure – A report from the Presidential Secretariat states Aruna: Uva Provincial Chief Secretary remanded for making wrong decisions to import organic fertiliser during Gotabaya’s government Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
[paywall layout_id=”1906″ service_tags=”TMA,FP” preview=”true”]
TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Mawratanews.lk
“Is this the change the government has made? One-third of this country is poor” – Sajith [Premadasa]
Virakesari, Thamilan
The Opposition Leader criticised the government for breaking its promises made during the presidential and general elections. Despite pledging a prosperous nation and a better life, the government has failed to deliver on key commitments, such as providing appointments to unemployed graduates and reducing prices of essential goods. Instead, the cost of living has risen, and electricity bills remain high.
The government’s promise to reduce corruption and fuel prices has not been fulfilled. Additionally, a World Bank report revealed that one-third of agricultural workers have not received fertiliser subsidies as promised. The Opposition Leader also pointed out that the poverty rate has reached 33%, contradicting the government’s claims of economic success. He concluded by condemning the government’s latest move to only fund local governments controlled by their party, calling it a “desperate” attempt to maintain power.
“How can a government that hasn’t addressed a political solution claim the Tamils have given them the mandate?” – ITAK MP Shritharan
Virakesari ITAK Parliamentary Leader S. Shritharan questioned the NPP’s claim that the Tamil people gave them a mandate to address the political solution for the North-East merger. He clarified that Tamil votes were a temporary opportunity, not a mandate. Shritharan also emphasised the importance of considering the North-East Tamils’ votes in the upcoming LG elections in May. He reiterated ITAK’s long-standing stance for a political solution that upholds the rights of the Tamil people, noting that a single government cannot achieve a solution for the self-determination of Tamils in the North-East. ITAK continues to advocate for a solution that reflects Tamil nationalism. |
“Ranil and Sajith have a chance to become President in another world” – PM Harini says this government will not fall
Thinakkural PM Harini Amarasuriya stated that both Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa may not have a chance to become president of Sri Lanka this year—or perhaps in another universe. She reassured the public that there is no need to fear, as this government will not fall in the first round. Her comments came in response to supporters who speculated that Ranil Wickremesinghe could become president by August. The PM questioned whether such a scenario could happen in Sri Lanka or elsewhere, dismissing the idea as unrealistic, given his history of electoral losses. She also referenced a recent statement by SJB MP Kabir Hashim, who predicted that Sajith Premadasa would become president by December, remarking that such claims seemed more suited to another universe. Harini urged those wishing to challenge the government to focus on constructive actions rather than engaging in baseless speculation. She reassured the public that the government would not be defeated and advised them not to fear opposition. |
“Agreement with India violates the Constitution” – Former MP Udaya Gammanpila
Virakesari
Former MP and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila has alleged that recent energy and infrastructure agreements signed between Sri Lanka and India violate the Constitution, particularly Article 12(1) on equality before the law. Speaking at a media briefing, he said the agreements grant special legal protections to Indian visitors and Sri Lankan officials involved in these projects, preventing any lawsuits against them—even in cases of environmental damage.
He revealed that although seven agreements were signed, only two have been made partially public, and accused the government of deliberately withholding the full details. Gammanpila emphasised that such immunity clauses amount to unconstitutional actions, which cannot be legally enacted without a national referendum.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
Sri Lanka gets in the way of two proposals from India; “We will not allow proposals that harm the country; no need for the Rameshwaram – Colombo bridge and the Mannar – Trincomalee highway” (sic) – Vijitha Herath
Lankadeepa
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka Vijitha Herath stated that the government has rejected two proposals made by the Government of India. Accordingly, Herath added that the Sri Lankan government rejects the construction of the bridge that connects India’s Rameshwaram and Sri Lanka’s Mannar and the highway that extends from the said bridge in Mannar to Trincomalee. Herath added that the NPP government would never allow anything that is harmful to the country to be done under them. Herath stated that the previous government had agreed to the constructions mentioned above.
Rs. 52.9 million has been spent on Urumaya deed distributing ceremonies during Ranil’s tenure – A report from the Presidential Secretariat states
Dinamina A report from the Presidential Secretariat revealed information that a sum of Rs. 52.9 million had been spent on the deed distribution ceremonies alone under the Urumaya programme implemented during the previous government, based on a concept by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, to provide freehold deeds to people who own licensed land. This expenditure was incurred for the ceremonies held to hand over deeds to people in 25 districts. In addition, this also includes the handover of deeds held in the Walawa zone of the Mahaweli Authority under the Ministry of Irrigation and at the Mahaweli Stadium in Thambuttegama. |
“Government schools are still taking money from parents despite being asked not to do so” – PM Harini Amarasuriya
Lankadeepa Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya stated that some government schools are still collecting money from parents even though every school has been informed not to do so. She added that she has been receiving complaints about government schools arbitrarily taking money from parents of students. Amarasuriya stated that measures will be taken against the schools and principals that continue to arbitrarily collect money from students. The premier made this statement in Hambantota on Sunday (27th). |
“The SJB will establish committees in the councils that it wins to secure the country” – Sajith Premadasa
Dinamina
Leader of the Opposition and SJB Sajith Premadasa stated that the government is currently unable to provide the national security and protection that the people need, and that the SJB has now stepped forward and taken up the challenge of providing security to the people of Sri Lanka. He added that he will gladly accept that challenge on behalf of the people. Premadasa added that the SJB will be implementing a proper programme through the local government institutions that will be won by the SJB in this year’s Local Government Elections. Premadasa made this statement in Makola on Friday (25th).
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
The Mattakkuliya Hindu kovil incident: five who beat an individual to death, given the death penalty
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
Issuing a verdict on the murder of a 21-year-old youth that took place in 2012, the Colombo High Court yesterday (28th) sentenced five individuals to death over the youth’s death caused by a severe beating. The court also sentenced two other persons to life imprisonment over the incident. These two individuals were sentenced to life imprisonment as they had been below the age of 18 at the time of the murder. The group has been sentenced over the assault and murder of a 21-year-old youth during a clash near a Kovil in Mattakkuliya in September 2012. Colombo High Court Judge Navaratne Marasinghe stated that the charges levelled against the accused had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Chamara Sampath case: Ranil Wickremesinghe questioned for three hours by the CIABOC
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe appeared at the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) yesterday (28th) to clarify matters relating to a statement he had made regarding a corruption allegation against MP Chamara Sampath Dasanayake. Accordingly, Wickremesinghe was questioned for nearly three hours, during which a statement was recorded. Wickremesinghe had been asked to clarify matters relating to a statement he had made regarding a corruption allegation against MP Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, who is currently in remand custody concerning actions taken during his tenure as Chief Minister of the Uva Provincial Council.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Common priorities: Additional stories
1. The Chinese garbage fertiliser ship incident: Former Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture remanded – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakaran
2. Maithripala Sirisena gives evidence regarding the suicide bomb attack – Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
3. A complaint from Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga against the Podujana Eksath Peramuna | “Don’t let them use my photo to ask for votes” – Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga – Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
4. (Prasanna) Ranaweera’s writ petition dismissed without being heard – Divaina, Dinamina, Virakesari, Thamilan
[/paywall]
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]