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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: U.S. imposes 44% tariff on Sri Lankan exports. Export earnings, garment industry at risk; president appoints special committee to investigate| Talks with the U.S. Deputy Minister Anil Fernando’s announcement | “Send a government expert team to Washington” – Sajith states at the United People’s Power conference Thinakaran: Indian Prime Minister Modi is visiting Sri Lanka today. He will sign several bilateral agreements related to security, health, energy and the digital economy |
Thinakkural: “The government should talk to America instead of opposing the tax; we must also stop expressing hatred” – Opposition Leader Sajith insists | “We will hold talks with America” – Minister of Labour Anil Jayantha Thamilan: Modi to visit Sri Lanka today! High-level security arrangements in Colombo; India-Sri Lanka security pact to be signed |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: Textiles industry at risk due to Trump’s tax decision: “The customs duty has not been imposed only on Sri Lanka” – Minister Anil Jayantha | Look into Law College documents to investigate Namal’s attorneyship | Former chief minister of the North Central Province and his sister-in-law file appeals | Modi to arrive today: a three-day official visit Divaina: Trump’s taxes hit the textile [industry] as well: Highest tax on an Asian country imposed on Sri Lanka at 44% Ada: CID ordered to investigate into Namal Rajapaksa’s attorneyship |
Mawbima: A 44% tax from the U.S. on export goods; 350,000 textile related jobs as risk | CID to investigate how Namal Rajapaksa passed his attorneys examination: The court orders Dinamina: Trump taxes the whole world: A 44% tax on Sri Lanka | Is Namal’s attorneyship fraudulent? Court orders the CID to look into Law College documents | Modi to arrive in Sri Lanka today Aruna: Trump imposes a 44% tax on Sri Lanka Anidda: An agreement with Modi for an energy farm |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Courts Express
Rejection of nominations: The Court of Appeal’s verdict will be released today
Virakesari, Thinakkural
The judgement on the petitions filed in the Court of Appeal challenging the rejection of nomination papers for local government bodies will be announced today. The judgement will be announced on the petitions filed seeking to accept the rejected nomination papers, focusing on issues such as the submission of only a copy of the birth certificate and the failure to submit a proper affidavit. The order was issued after lengthy arguments yesterday before a bench of the Court of Appeal comprising Acting Chairperson Justice Mohamed Lafar Tahir and Justice Priyantha Fernando. At the same time an order has been issued to suspend – until tomorrow – the election processes for the local government bodies where the petitions have been filed.
“President Anura should be hanged” – Lohan Ratwatte says | “Don’t touch my wife” – Lohan Ratwatte publicly warns the president
Thamilan, Thinakkural Former State Minister Lohan Ratwatte has charged that the president and his associates should be hanged for the crimes committed during the JVP riots, and that he knows what to do if he touches his wife when the wives of politicians are being arrested. He made this statement while addressing a campaign rally of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna for the local government elections, and questioned President Anura Kumara Dissanayake about his policies. He further stated that it is shameful that they imprisoned not only him and his wife, but also now another former chief minister and the wife of a former minister. He will support the president if he does good for the nation, but if not, he will have to take alternative measures, he added. |
“Vote-hunting politics in Tamil Nadu using Katchatheevu. Katchatheevu belongs to Sri Lanka” – Minister Chandrasekar
Thinakaran Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar stated that vote-hunting politics is being conducted in Tamil Nadu over the Katchatheevu issue and that Katchatheevu belongs to Sri Lanka no matter what. The minister made this statement while speaking to the media in Jaffna yesterday (3rd) regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka and the Katchatheevu issue. |
India is the only saviour who can save Sri Lanka; Wijewardene says it is necessary to go along with the ETCA agreement
Virakesari
Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank Dr. W.A. Wijewardene stated that the imposition of a 44% tariff on Sri Lankan exports by the U.S. will have a huge impact, and therefore in the current environment India can act as Sri Lanka’s saviour, thus Sri Lanka should quickly conclude agreements including the ETCA with India. Wijewardene mentioned these issues in an interview given to a media outlet regarding the imposition of a 44% tariff by the U.S. He further stated that the U.S., which has increased tariff rates on various countries including Sri Lanka, announced it yesterday. In that regard, taxes have also been imposed on Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia and India which export a lot of their garments to the U.S. He suggested that Sri Lanka must now move towards new market opportunities and increase its exports to India, as India is currently developing at the highest rate in the world. This will compensate for the loss caused by the U.S. tariff, he noted.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Daily Mirror
Mervyn Silva remanded again
Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina
Former Minister Mervyn Silva has been further remanded. Former Minister Silva and two others were further remanded until April 9 after being produced before the Mahara Magistrate’s Court yesterday (3rd). The former minister was arrested for allegedly selling state-owned land to a private party by forging documents.
Sajith Premadasa unanimously named the leader of the SJB
Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Divaina The annual convention of the SJB was held at Hyde Park, Colombo yesterday (3rd), and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa was unanimously chosen as the party leader for the year 2025. Imthiaz Bakeer Markar has been named the chairperson of the party. Accordingly, Ranjith Madduma Bandara was named the secretary of the party, Tissa Attanayaka was named the organiser and Harsha de Silva was named the treasurer of the party. |
CEB to increase electricity charges by 10% without the approval of the PUCSL
Anidda The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is planning to increase the electricity tariffs by 10% without the approval of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL). The paper further reports that if the CEB is experiencing losses more than Rs. 15,000 million the CEB will be able to increase the charges without the approval of the PUCSL. |
The anti-corruption plan to be revealed on April 9
Dinamina
Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) High Court Judge Ranga Srinath Abeywickrama Dissanayake stated that the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2025 – 2029 will be launched on April 9 at the Bandaranaike International Conference Hall under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dissanayake added that eliminating bribery or corruption is one of the most crucial factors for the prosperity and progress of a country, and added further that the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan has been prepared with the participation of local and international stakeholders with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption efforts from 2025.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: The Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade
Textiles industry at risk due to Trump’s tax decision: “The customs duty has not been imposed only on Sri Lanka” – Minister Anil Jayantha | President Dissanayake appoints a committee to give recommendations on Trump’s taxes
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Anidda, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
Issuing an executive order, U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed a 44% tax on Sri Lanka, claiming that it is a discounted reciprocal tax of about half the taxes and barriers imposed by Sri Lanka on the U.S. Reportedly, Sri Lanka’s ‘reciprocal discounted tax’ is half of a deemed 88% in taxes charged on U.S. products. The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) states that Sri Lanka’s textile industry is at a massive risk due to these tax revisions. The JAAF states further that thousands of jobs are at risk and that Sr Lanka might be at risk of losing USD 3.15 billion in total export earnings.
Lankadeepa, Thinakaran, Virakesari and Thinakkural highlight the statement of Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha. He stated that the government wants to establish a good trade and investment relationship with the U.S., and is confident that it will be possible to negotiate a reduction in tariffs before the U.S. tariffs are implemented on the 9th of this month. Commenting on the U.S.’s 44% tariff on imports from Sri Lanka, Dr. Anil Jayantha further added that we own a complex tax system and that it needs to be simplified to improve trade relations with the U.S.
CID ordered to investigate Namal Rajapaksa’s attorneyship
Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Thinakaran, Thamilan
The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday (3rd) ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to look into the files of the Law College of Sri Lanka and investigate as to whether MP Namal Rajapaksa had fraudulently obtained his Attorney-at-Law qualification. The probe was initiated based on a complaint lodged by the Citizens’ Power Against Bribery and Corruption. The CID’s Special Investigation Unit stated that the inquiry focuses on whether Rajapaksa engaged in fraudulent activities during his Sri Lanka Law College examinations. Accordingly, official records from the institution will be scrutinised as part of investigation efforts to verify the claims. After considering the submissions, Colombo Chief Magistrate Tanuja Lakmali directed the CID to present a progress report to the court.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. Modi to arrive in Sri Lanka today for three-day official visit – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Ada, Mawbima, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thinakkural, Thamilan
2. Deshabandu further remanded till April 10 – Divaina, Ada, Dinamina, Aruna, Virakesari, Thinakaran
3. Appeals from former Chief Minister of the North Central Province S.M. Ranjith and his sister-in-law – Lankadeepa, Ada, Dinamina, Anidda, Thamilan
4. The agreements that will be signed by Modi will not be given to the Cabinet – FSP – Aruna, Thinakkural
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