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DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS |
Tamil Headlines
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Virakesari: “Cooperate to hold a peaceful election” – Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake requests all stakeholders | President Anura Kumara Dissanayake meets the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Thinakaran: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake meets the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam | Special arrangements for people with disabilities to vote at the local government election | Foreign investors come forward to lease the Presidential Palace in Jaffna | Steps to bring back to the country those who incite people to commit crimes from overseas |
Thinakkural: “The gazette issued on grabbing lands will affect the relationship with the North and East” – Sumanthiran writes to the president requesting its immediate withdrawal | “The government plans to bring the coastal areas of the North under its control” – Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam | 13,759 polling stations prepared for the local government election Thamilan: “A loss of Rs. 3 billion over 10 years due to strikes” – Wasantha Athukorala | “The Sri Lankan government is planing to destroy the fishing vessels of the Tamil Nadu fisherfolk” – S. Ramadoss |
Sinhala Headlines
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Lankadeepa: 300 Buddhist artefacts auctioned in Hong Kong; found in an Indian stupa in 1896; worth 3.86 billion; includes gems from Lord Buddha’s urn; opposed by Buddhist organisations Divaina: Dragged back to the country from Belarus, Loku Patty vomits the secrets of 10 murders; committed crimes in Sri Lanka, fled abroad and orchestrated crimes from overseas; a major drug dealer and underworld figure; the mastermind behind Club Wasantha’s murder on Kanjipani’s orders Ada: LG polls tomorrow: 75,589 candidates contesting 8,287 council member seats | Loku Patty, who is accused of multiple murders and drug cases, including the killing of Club Wasantha, and hiding in Belarus, brought back to the country; in seven months, we have repatriated 11 such criminal suspects hiding overseas |
Mawbima: Criminal gang leader Loku Patty caught in Belarus and brought back to the country; investigations by the Western Province (South) Crime Division | 225,000 government officials to go to polling stations today for election duties Dinamina: The LG election tomorrow: Things will go wrong if you violate election regulations; the commissioner general of elections states that punishment will be given regardless of rank; 17,156,338 voters, 75,589 candidates, 65,000 police for security and 3,000 observers from PAFFREL Aruna: “Club Wasantha was killed for threatening Kanjipani”, says Loku Patty, who was brought back to the country Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only |
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TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: The Island
“The gazette issued on grabbing lands will affect the relationship with the North and East” – Sumanthiran writes to the president requesting its immediate withdrawal
Virakesari, Thinakkural
ITAK General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake requesting him to withdraw the recently published Gazette No.: 2,430 immediately. Sumanthiran added that notice has been given to land owners and others to make their claims within a period of three months from the date of the gazette. Lands for which no claims have been submitted will be declared as state lands under Section 5(1) of the Land Settlement Ordinance, and Sumanthiran noted that this colonial law should not be applied in the current situation. “If this course of action is proceeded with, it would have the effect of depriving Tamil people of the Northern and Eastern Provinces of the ability to have effective restoration of the ability and right to possess, enjoy and use their lands to which they have a legitimate claim as people of the province”, Sumanthiran further stated. The letter further reads that, “such action is inconsistent with due respect for the rights of the people of the Northern and Eastern Provinces and would be inimical to the repair and restoration of the fractured relationships between the people of the North and South”.
“The government plans to bring the coastal areas of the North under its control” – Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam
Thinakkural All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam claimed that the Sinhala leaders are speculating that the Tamil people’s liberation struggle may once again turn into an armed struggle. Ponnambalam alleged that therefore, they are planning to terrorise the people of the northern region, drive them from their lands, and completely acquire private lands since it is only by bringing the coastal areas of the northern region under their control that they can ensure that arms are not imported from outside. He added that the election manifesto of the NPP states that the army cannot be on private lands, and therefore, all private lands should be released. Ponnambalam noted that, however, according to the gazette issued recently, steps have been taken to acquire 6,000 acres of the northern coastal land of the Tamil nation. |
“A loss of Rs. 3 billion over 10 years due to strikes” – Wasantha Athukorala
Thamilan Professor in Economics at the University of Peradeniya Wasantha Athukorala claimed that recent statistics indicate that a loss of over Rs. 3 billion has been incurred in the last 10 years due to strikes across the country. Athukorala explained that there were 386 strikes during that period due to which the country lost 662,388 working days. He further stated that 115,356 employees were involved in strikes during the said period, and the highest number of strikes occurred in 2018. Athukorala also pointed out that the highest number of strikes occurred in sectors such as education, health, large plantations, transport and clothing. 2,122 trade unions are operating in Sri Lanka at present. |
The NPP lodges a complaint with the police against Sumanthiran
Thamilan, Thinakaran
The NPP has filed a complaint against ITAK General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran at the Jaffna District Election Office and the Jaffna Police Station. The complaint states that Sumanthiran has made a defamatory statement on social media that NPP’s mayoral candidate for the Jaffna Municipal Council, Sundaramoorthy Kabilan, cannot even become a member of the Jaffna Municipal Council.
SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES |
Photo credits: Lanka Leader.lk
“Local government members have obtained Rs. 620.6 million in compensation” – Jayatissa
Dinamina, Lankadeepa
Minister of Health and Mass Media Nalinda Jayatissa revealed that 92 former local government members have received Rs. 620.6 million in compensation from the Treasury for the damage to property during the May 9, 2022, Aragalaya (struggle) unrest. Jayatissa alleged that certain individuals had also claimed insurance in addition to state compensation, with certain cases involving fraudulent claims made under relatives’ names, such as mothers-in-law. The minister criticised these individuals for contributing to the financial strain on the Treasury and confirmed that an investigation is currently underway into the legitimacy of these compensation claims.
“If the student died due to ragging then the perpetrators will be punished under criminal law” – The president
Lankadeepa, Divaina President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has condemned ragging in universities, emphasising that if the recent death of a student from the Sabaragamuwa University was caused by ragging, legal action will be taken against the perpetrators under criminal law. Speaking on a local TV channel, the president reiterated that no space, including university grounds, should be exempt from law enforcement, and investigations will be conducted under criminal law regardless of the location. |
“The government is planning to import substandard medicines at inflated prices” – Jayagoda
Aruna The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) has accused the government of planning to import 101 substandard medicines from foreign countries at inflated prices, bypassing the regular procurement process. Speaking at a media briefing on May 4, FSP Education Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda stated that this move mirrors the actions of previous administrations, which imported low-quality medicines at higher costs. |
Chamara Sampath questioned for four hours by the CID
Dinamina
New Democratic Front (NDF) MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake was questioned for approximately four hours by officers from the CID’s Unlawful Assets Investigation Division on May 3. The inquiry is part of an investigation into the illegal sale of nearly 30,000 metric tonnes of rock phosphate to three companies for export, which resulted in the government incurring a loss of around Rs. 2.7 billion. According to a senior police officer, the inquiry took place at the Badulla Prison following an order from the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. Dassanayake, who served as the state minister of industries in 2023 and 2024, is currently under investigation for his involvement in the sale.
COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS |
Photo credits: Divaina
The LG election is tomorrow
Mawbima, Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Ada, Divaina, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
Sri Lanka will hold the local government election tomorrow (May 6), with 75,589 candidates contesting 8,287 seats. Newspapers report that over 17.1 million voters are expected to cast their ballots at 13,759 polling stations. To support the process, 225,000 government officials have been deployed, along with 65,000 police officers and 3,000 People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) observers. Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake has called on all stakeholders to ensure a peaceful election, warning that violations will be punished regardless of rank. According to PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi, 541 complaints of election misconduct have been received so far. Special provisions have also been arranged for voters with disabilities. A public holiday has been declared for election day with no salary deductions, and schools will remain closed on May 5, 6 and 7.
Loku Patty brought back to the country
Mawbima, Dinamina, Lankadeepa, Aruna, Divaina, Ada, Virakesari, Thinakaran, Thamilan
Newspapers report that the notorious drug trafficker and underworld figure Loku Patty has been brought back to Sri Lanka from Belarus. Accused of orchestrating multiple murders — including the killing of Club Wasantha on the orders of fellow underworld leader Kanjipani — he had been hiding overseas while directing criminal operations in Sri Lanka. Police say his return marks the 11th such repatriation in seven months as part of a wider crackdown on organised crime. Police Spokesperson SSP Buddhika Manatunga stated that red notices have been issued for over 20 more suspects hiding in countries such as Dubai, India and Canada. Investigations into Loku Patty’s network are ongoing, led by the Western Province (South) Crime Division.
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Common priorities: Additional stories
1. The president meets the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam – Dinamina, Mawbima, Divaina, Ada, Thinakkural, Virakesari, Thinakaran
2. Investigations into the ragging incident at the University of Sabaragamuwa handed over to the CID – Dinamina, Mawbima, Lankadeepa, Aruna, Divaina, Ada, Thinakaran
3. A student of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura who opposed ragging, assaulted – Lankadeepa, Divaina, Aruna, Thinakaran
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