8 September 2025 | Vol. 11, #158

DIFFERENT PRIORITIES IN THE SINHALA AND TAMIL PRESS

Virakesari: Delegation led by Vijitha (Herath) travels to Geneva; 60th session begins today; discussion on Sri Lanka in first meeting; Arrangements made for government representatives to meet UNHRC Chief Volker Türk | 29th anniversary commemoration of Krishanthi murder

Thinakaran: Written report on Sri Lanka at the [UNHRC]! UNHRC session in Geneva begins today | Migrant workers remit USD 5.116 billion in 8 months; People’s Bank reports | Ella–Wellawaya bus accident; Was the bus driver under the influence of alcohol? Blood samples sent to Government Analyst’s Department | Provincial Council election after completion of delimitation process! Government informs UN office

Thinakkural: “Threats of murder for pointing out government mistakes; many arrive on motorcycles without number plates near homes” – Opposition Leader Sajith condemns strongly | “Underground gangs, drug trafficking; major revelations coming soon” – Nalinda Jayatissa

Thamilan: Geneva sessions begin today! Minister Vijitha Herath departs from Colombo; strategy to oppose resolution against Sri Lanka | Protect Chemmani! Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission sends urgent letter to President Anura

Lankadeepa: ‘Chemicals to make ICE’ found in Netolpitiya as well: 1,000 kg unearthed; parties had also been thrown in the Middeniya containers; brother of former Pradeshiya Sabha member also involved; has run for the election as well: a suspect of the Raviraj murder | Issue with fence: “The Sudu Araliya Hotel will be dozered and rebuilt anew” – Dudley Sirisena

Divaina: Many more secrets revealed: Padme and the group have produced ICE in Nuwara Eliya and sold across the country: brothers Piyal and Sampath have hidden 50,000 tonnes of chemical material in Middeniya and Netolpitiya; firearms unearthed in Middeniya as the chemical materials were being dug out: CID investigations to find out how the two containers were released from Customs | [The victims of the Ella bus accident] take their final leave, leaving Tangalle in tears; “the permit of the bus that toppled over had been withdrawn in 2023” – Director of Operations and Service Supervision of the NTC

Mawbima: The two containers that were found in Middeniya were red-flagged by the foreign intelligence services; no materials were found, even though detained and questioned; suspicions about existence of another container; another haul of material found in a land in Netolpitiya | Four shootings reported within 10 hours in Grandpass, Panchikawatte, Negombo and Panadura: one dead and another wounded

Dinamina: Middeniya ICE container incident: the SLPP member who hid had been arrested in connection with the Raviraj murder | Another haul caught in Netolpitiya and Kandana

Aruna: Law to be exercised strictly on dangerous [unauthorised] modifications on buses from today: strict attention to also be given to unauthorised horns and flashing lights

Anidda: This paper is published on Fridays only

TAMIL PRESS PRIORITIES

Ban on lorries transporting sand during school hours

Thinakkural, Thinakaran, Thamilan

Director General of the Department of Survey and Mines, Deepani Weerakoon, has stated that the movement of heavy vehicles transporting sand during school hours will be prohibited from today (8th).

She also emphasised that vehicles must be properly stopped on the roadside while undertaking transport.

Weerakoon further noted that awareness campaigns regarding this restriction have been carried out through all divisional secretariats since the 4th of this month.

Provincial Council election after completion of delimitation process! Government informs UN office

Thinakaran

The Government of Sri Lanka has informed the OHCHR that provincial council elections will be held once the delimitation process is completed.

This statement was made in response to a report released by the OHCHR on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, specifically addressing concerns that provincial council elections have not been conducted since 2014 under the 13th Amendment.

The government also highlighted that in November 2024, Sri Lanka formed a parliament including representatives from multiple communities, including two women from the hill country community and a member with visual impairment, among other groups.

However, the OHCHR pointed out that only two female ministers, including the prime minister, were appointed to the Cabinet.

While 22 women were elected to parliament, doubling female participation to 9.8 per cent, this remains below the average 22.1 per cent benchmark highlighted by the human rights office.

HRCSL writes to president requesting him to protect Chemmani [mass grave site]

Thamilan

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has made an urgent appeal to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to officially designate the sites identified as Chemmani Sithupathi mass grave as protected areas.

In a special document sent to the president, the HRCSL emphasised the necessity of safeguarding the location, where over 200 skeletons have been recovered.

During August 3, 4, and 5, the HRCSL engaged in fact-finding activities at the mass grave site in Chemmani, Jaffna.

The purpose of the mission was to monitor the ongoing investigation, meet with officials from relevant institutions, independent observers, and representatives of families of the disappeared, and identify challenges faced by these stakeholders.

Considering the condition of the bones, their close proximity, and the shallow burial depth, the commission observed that the mass burial was “likely illegal and indicative of extrajudicial killings.”

On this basis, HRCSL has requested that the site be declared a protected area.

Thayiddy temple protest resumes

Thinakkural

The Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF), together with the owners of the occupied lands, held their monthly protest in Thayiddy, demanding the removal of illegally constructed structures and the return of the land and surrounding properties to their rightful owners.

The protest began at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and concluded at 6:00 p.m.

Additionally, a continuous protest was held yesterday, Sunday, the full moon day, from 6:30 a.m. until evening.

SINHALA PRESS PRIORITIES

Four shootings reported in the Western Province within 10 hours

Lankadeepa, Divaina, Mawbima

Four separate shooting incidents were reported from different parts of the island within the span of 10 – 12 hours.

The Police confirmed that the shootings left one person dead and another injured.

Accordingly, the total number of shootings reported so far this year has risen to 96, which have resulted in 50 fatalities and injuries to 53 other persons.

A shooting occurred in Grandpass at around 11:45 p.m. on Friday (5th), resulting in the death of a 26-year-old youth.

Investigations have revealed that he had no previous criminal record.

Shortly after, at around 1:40 a.m. on Saturday (6th), another shooting was reported in the Panchikawatte area of Maradana.

Two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle carried out the attack, critically injuring a 44-year-old resident of Panchikawatte.

He is currently receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Accident and Emergency Department of the Colombo National Hospital.

Police investigations revealed that the victim is a close associate of an organised criminal known as ‘Panchikawatte Neville’.

Meanwhile, at around 1:30 a.m., another shooting took place in the Kuttiduwa area of Negombo, and the fourth shooting occurred at around 9:45 a.m. on Saturday (6th) in the Sandagalawatta area of Alubomulla, Panadura.

DIG posts for Darshika, Padmini, Renuka and Nishani

Dinamina

For the first time in the history of the Sri Lanka Police, four female officers have been appointed as Deputy Inspectors General of Police.

The officers are Darshika Kumari, Padmini Weerasuriya, Renuka Jayasundara, and Nishani Seneviratne.

The promotions to the position of Deputy Inspector General were officially announced by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya last Thursday night.

These officers received the promotions after achieving the highest marks in the recent interviews.

COMMON PRIORITIES: SINHALA & TAMIL PRESS