DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: “Our cooperation for Sri Lanka will continue” – IMF representative Krishna Srinivasan assures the President: Announces that Kristalina Georgieva will visit in February | Pictorial: Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya participating in the national event held yesterday at Athurugiriya Gunasekara Primary School to enrol students into Grade 1 under the new education reforms”Our cooperation for Sri Lanka will continue” – IMF representative Krishna Srinivasan assures the President: Announces that Kristalina Georgieva will visit in February | Pictorial: Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya participating in the national event held yesterday at Athurugiriya Gunasekara Primary School to enrol students into Grade 1 under the new education reforms Thinakaran: 78th Independence Day celebrations: All arrangements completed; Preparations to hold the event grandly under the theme ‘Let’s Rebuild Sri Lanka’ | “New education reforms: Sajith’s state of mind must be examined” – Minister Nalinda Jayatissa | “Those who went abroad improperly during the war period will be allowed to return to the country without disruptions” – Ananda Wijepala |
Thinakkural: “3,203 Sinhalese families to be granted Tamil lands through the Kivul Oya reservoir project” – Condemnation by Father Leo Armstrong, Co-Chair of the Tamil Heritage Forum | Electricity tariffs likely to increase by 20-30 per cent | There is currently no risk of the Nipah virus spreading within Sri Lanka Thamilan: Impose a ban on filling 1,500 vacancies in the Education Administrative Service; Case filed in the Supreme Court! Fundamental Rights petition accepted for hearing | The price of a gold sovereign has exceeded Rs. 400,000 | Attack on a religious Brother; Six police officers released on bail | Corruption case against Rajitha; Retrial on April 29 | Pictorial: Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya participating in the national event held yesterday at Athurugiriya Gunasekara Primary School to enrol students into Grade 1 under the new education reforms |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: The container incident: Chief of Customs summoned before the parliamentary select committee: more officials to be called today and tomorrow; [has been questioned on] information regarding the entry, storage and dispatch of the containers | New UNICEF report makes revelation: 48,000 that were affected by Ditwah still unable to reside in own houses: 2,199 other families still in refugee camps Divaina: Do not disregard Nipah: airports in Asia on alert; “do not worry, the risk is extremely low. The WHO has not imposed travel restrictions; the virus is contracted through long and close contact; health services prepared for urgent treatment if virus is detected” – Health Secretary Dr Anil Jasinghe Mawbima: “Even if the death penalty is received, there is no escape from the ‘anantariya sin’ (heinous crime)” – High Court Judge Ruchira Weliwatta states while giving verdict to son who murdered his mother | Three Central Province Term Test papers, leaked
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Dinamina: State and estate companies enter agreement to increase the plantation worker daily wage to Rs. 1,750: the highest increase in wages recorded in the 200-year-old history of plantation workers Aruna: 24-carat gold sovereign exceeds Rs. 400,000: treasury filled with gold instead of USD; one ounce of gold exceeds USD 5,000 Anidda:Name of the Bursar of the Open University suggested for the post of Auditor General: a graduate of the Kelaniya University: Speaker advises civil society representatives |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Virakesari
“3,203 Sinhalese families to be granted Tamil lands through the Kivul Oya reservoir project” – Condemnation by Father Leo Armstrong, Co-Chair of the Tamil Heritage Forum
Thinakkural, Virakesari
The Kivul Oya reservoir project is a continuation of structural genocide, according to Father Leo Armstrong, Co-Chair of the Tamil Heritage Forum.
A project report by the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka (MASL) indicates that the reservoir, to be built in the Vavuniya North DS Division, will benefit 3,203 Sinhalese families.
The project is expected to submerge over 400 acres of residential and agricultural land in traditional Tamil villages, including Vedivaithakal and Kanjaramottai, as well as 4,000 acres of the Periyakattukulam forest reserve.
Furthermore, 47 identified archaeological sites are at risk of being submerged, despite the Department of Archaeology previously restricting Tamil worship at the nearby Vedukkunaari Hill.
The Forum condemned statements by Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar, who dismissed concerns raised by Tamil politicians, and claimed the project aims to alter the North’s demographics through planned Sinhalese settlements.
“Spies within the ITAK party” – Accusation by former MP Sivamohan
Thinakaran, Thinakkural Former MP S. Sivamohan claimed that a group of “spies” have infiltrated the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) political committee under a planned agenda. Speaking at a media briefing in Vavuniya, he asserted that the committee is dominated by supporters of M.A. Sumanthiran. Sivamohan questioned the inclusion of MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, stating that the latter was not a member of the party during the last general council meeting. He further noted that the inclusion of certain individuals remains a “mystery” and criticised the process by which the former acting secretary was absorbed into the committee. |
“A corruption larger than the bond scam through the purchase of substandard coal! Risk of power cuts recurring after March” – Accusation by MP MarikkarVirakesari, Thinakkural Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP S.M. Marikkar alleged that a massive corruption scandal, exceeding the scale of the Central Bank bond scam, has occurred through the current procurement of substandard coal. He claimed that the tender process was manipulated by reducing the timeframe from 42 to 21 days and lowering the required import volume from 500,000 t to 100,000 t to favour unqualified firms. Marikkar stated that the coal fails to meet the required 5,900 kcal quality, which prevents the full generation of 300 MW at the Norochcholai Power Station and necessitates the purchase of expensive diesel-generated power. He questioned the USD 2.1 million fine on the first shipment and alleged that the government is concealing the poor quality of the third shipment by delaying its discharge. Warning of potential power cuts after March, the MP urged the police to investigate the National People’s Power (NPP) government’s involvement in the scandal. |
Decision to change some conditions of the Immigration and Emigration Act; Minister Ananda Wijepala says there will be no disruption to Sri Lankans returning to the motherland
Thinakaran, Thamilan Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala announced that facilities have been arranged for Sri Lankans who left the country during the war to return without any hindrance. He stated that steps have been taken to amend certain conditions in the existing immigration and emigration laws to facilitate this process, following concerns raised by the UN regarding previous legal actions against returnees at the airport. The minister noted that discussions are underway with Indian authorities to gather details of those wishing to return, and the recommendations of the Attorney General (AG) have been sought to implement the necessary legal amendments. Minister Wijepala further clarified that while returning citizens will be allowed entry without obstruction, it is mandatory for them to provide documentation proving they lived under the supervision of the UN during their time abroad. |
“Our cooperation for Sri Lanka will continue” – IMF representative Krishna Srinivasan assures the President: Announces that Kristalina Georgieva will visit in FebruaryVirakesari The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expressed its full solidarity and continued support for Sri Lanka during a meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Krishna Srinivasan, Director of the IMF’s Asia Pacific Department, stated that a delegation visited the island to demonstrate commitment to the country’s progress. To further solidify this partnership, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka next month. Srinivasan reaffirmed that the IMF stands with Sri Lanka and will provide comprehensive assistance for its economic recovery. |
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Ada Derana
Three Central Province Term Test papers, leaked
Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna
The Central Province Education Department has launched an investigation into the leakage of Science, Mathematics, and English question papers provided to schools for the Grade 10 third-term examination.
Central Province Director of Education Nihal Alahakoon stated that this issue arose after a principal distributed question papers intended for all classes to students.
This occurred despite instructions issued to principals through Zonal Education Directors to refrain from conducting formal exams for Grades 6 to 9, due to the impact of adverse weather conditions on students.
Alahakoon added that an investigation has been initiated against the principal involved in the matter.
“Five directors had to resign from the eye hospital due to pressures from the GMOA” — Acting Director Dr Jayaruwan BandaraDivaina, Aruna Acting Director of the National Eye Hospital, Colombo, Dr Jayaruwan Bandara, revealed that five directors of the National Eye Hospital, Colombo, had left the hospital during the past three years due to being unable to bear the pressure caused by the undue influence of the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA). He stated that one of them had died while another director became seriously ill. He made the revelation while convening a press conference yesterday (29th) at the National Eye Hospital premises in Colombo. |
An IMF delegation to the island soon to resume discussions regarding the next reviewDivaina, Dinamina The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced that a delegation will arrive in Sri Lanka next week to resume discussions on economic policies for the fifth review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) provided to Sri Lanka. Accordingly, IMF Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, Evan Papageorgiou, stated that the IMF plans to send a mission to Sri Lanka as soon as possible to resume economic policy discussions while continuing the negotiations related to the review process. |
Name of the Bursar of the Open University suggested for the post of Auditor General: a graduate of the Kelaniya University
Anidda
It was reported that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has suggested the name of W.M.K.G.A. Wickramasinghe to the Speaker for the approval of the Constitutional Council (CC) to be appointed as the Auditor General.
W.M.K.G.A. Wickramasinghe is a graduate of the University of Kelaniya and a qualified Chartered Accountant who currently serves as the Bursar of the Open University of Sri Lanka.
The paper reported that the suggestion will be presented to the CC at the meeting to be held today (30th).
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: The Morning
“The new system will provide children with an education that does not fail” – Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakaran, Thinakkural
Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, Dr Harini Amarasuriya, stated that the new education reforms give children entering school in Grade 1 an education system in which they do not fail.
She added that the government “accepts the responsibility of making your child’s future successful.”
The Prime Minister made this statement while addressing the national programme to implement new education reforms for children entering Grade 1 in the year 2026, held yesterday (29th) at Athurugiriya Gunasekara Primary School.
The assault on the priest: three of the police recognised | Six of the police who were remanded granted bail
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Virakesari, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Six police officers from the Gampaha Divisional Crime Detection Bureau (DCDB), arrested for the alleged assault of a Catholic priest, were granted bail yesterday (29th).
The suspects appeared in the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court, where the magistrate ordered their release on a surety bail of Rs. 500,000 each.
In addition to the financial requirement, the court imposed a travel ban prohibiting the suspects from leaving the country.
Additionally, during a prior identification parade, the assaulted priest identified three of the suspects.
He stated that one officer carried out the assault while two others were present.
The remaining officers were identified as being in the vicinity when the incident occurred.
Proceedings are set to resume on April 30.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. “Everything prepared for the ‘Rebuild Sri Lanka’ 78th Independence Day celebrations” – Minister of Public Administration – Lankadeepa, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran
2. Do not disregard Nipah: airports in Asia on alert; “do not worry, the risk is extremely low. The WHO has not imposed travel restrictions; the virus is contracted through long and close contact; health services prepared for urgent treatment if virus is detected” – Health Secretary Dr Anil Jasinghe – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Thinakkural
3. State and estate companies enter agreement to increase the plantation worker daily wage to Rs. 1,750: the highest increase in wages recorded in the 200-year-old history of plantation workers – Dinamina, Virakesari, Thinakkural
4. EC calls applications for the registration of new political parties – Dinamina, Aruna, Thamilan
5. Money laundering case against Namal Rajapaksa to be taken up for hearing on July 30– Dinamina, Thinakaran, Thamilan
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